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Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  M.«80 

(716)  (t72-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICIVIH 
Cotlection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  niicroreproduclions  historiques 


^ 


<«^ 


©1981 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bi  Jliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the*  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


n 


n 


n 


a 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endohimagee 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^e  et/ou  peiliculde 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 


□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleua  ou  noire) 

I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


□ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
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mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  film^es. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl6mentaires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilmd  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
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point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  methods  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


I      I    Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaur6es  et/ou  pellicul^es 

Pages  discoloured,  <-<tained  or  foxe( 
Pages  d6color6es,  tachet^es  ou  piquees 


I      I    Pages  damaged/ 

I      I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

r~l    Pages  discoloured,  ^-tained  or  foxed/ 


□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 

r^    Showthrough/ 
LV-I    Transparence 

r~~|    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


Quality  in^gale  de  I'impression 

includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
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ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
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obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  film^es  d  nouveau  de  faqon  i 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film^  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqud  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


/ 

V 

# 

12X 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

e 

Stalls 
s  du 
lodifier 
r  une 
Image 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Quebec 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  tteeplng  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  list  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  p<jge  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —«^(  meaning  "CON- 
TINUHD  "),  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'exemplaire  filmi  fut  reproduit  grSce  d  la 
gdndrositd  de: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Quebec 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet6  de  lexemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exempiaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimde  sont  filmds  en  commengant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exempiaires 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commenqant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  teile 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboies  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  chaque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbols  V  signifies  "FIN  ". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmds  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichd,  il  est  filmd  d  partir 
de  I'angle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


irrata 
to 


pelure, 
n  d 


□ 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

1  2  3 

4  5  6 


THE    BURGOYNE    CAMPAIGN 


AN      ADDRESS 


DrCLIVEREU    ON    THE    UATTjlE-FIELD 


ON     THE 


ONE   HUNDREDTH   CELEBRATION 


OF   THE 


BATTLE    OF    BEMLS    HEIGHTS 


September  19,   1877 


BY 


JOHN    AUSTIN    STEVENS 


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ISEW    YORK 

ANSON    D.   F.   RANDOLPH   &    COMPANY 

900   Broadway 

1877. 


§.  <Watte  Ac  ^cpUx: 

IliILi.33. 

Mahtkii  ov  AiiTH,  (Jolumliia  CoII.jK'*.  *^'fty  "f  N^ew  York,  1873. 
KcnK  HiLi,,  IV  THK  TuwNMnn    hk  Uki>  Hook,  neau  Tivm.i  V,  O.,  Ditchkmh  Co.,  N.  Y. 


'  IS49. 


Ut  January^  187:3. 

.U'iKJR  Ai>vocATR,  with  tlu^  raiilt  Major,  1.s45, 
('oi.oNKi.  \.  Y.  S,  I.,  1846  ;  ftssi^xncil  for  ".t//-ri/(»r('iux  f'omluci 

HtiKiKuiKUiiKSKUM.  for  ^^hiiportitnt  S'-rviri',"'  [tir^i  niiimirittniTit— In  V.  V,  Stftte—tu  lliiU  ruiik, 
hithert^i  eleotive,!  1m51,  M.  K.  S.  X.  Y. 

An.UrTANV-<JKNKU*L,  S.  \.  V,,  iMil^. 

MuHVKr  M  a,tok-<tknkka[.,  S.  \.  \'.,  fnr  *'^ yfi ritorwuf  Servicfiif** 

I  first  ami  only  treinfrat  olHcer  recelvinif  aui:h  an  Imiior  (the  hi;;he8t)  frnm  S.  \.  Y.,  ami  thi-  imly 

oftii-er  thus  hrevetted  (Maior-(Terit'ran  iti  t!iv  lliiiteci  Stales. j 

hy  *'.*?/*«<?/(*/ .-If/,"  or  **C-mc>trrent  Ilf»tlittion,   ypir  York  State  Lfijisldtnrc,  \\tT\\.  1S6(}. 


LAWS  OK  NKW  VOKK.  Vol.  y.  -^iUh  Session,  1866,  Pai;e  214-2. 
i'-iariirreiU     Wmhi^inn    n-qwHtui'f  the    Guvirn'ti'   to   roiif't-r    ninm    HeiifadUr-fientral    ./.    H'.l  TTS 
DhJ  PUYSTKIt\iie  l\-y^tvr\  thf  ftrevft   rank  of  'M^ijur*  \<rnner'af\  in  the   National   finanl 
4if  Xeio  Vnrk. 
R[C'«t>LVKi>,  {]{  the  Senate  eon>  iir,)  That,  It  beinjf  a  graielul  duty  to  ackuowledfje  in  a  suitable 
nmiiiier  the  services  of  a  cUstin^caiaheil  eitizeii  nf  this  State,  rea.lereii  to  the  \'»tiniial  (^uard  ami 
to  the  United  Statea  prior  to  and  during  the  Kebeltion,  the  (tovernor  be  and  lie  ii<  herebv  luitliorlzed 
and  reiiuested  to  oroifer  upon   Briffadi  T-(Jeneral  J.  WATTS   I>K   IHIYSnCR  |de  iVvsterJ   the 
hrt'wt  rank  of  Major-di  n^ral  in  the  National  'liiard  of  Nuw  York,  for  nierUopJouii  servicea,  which 
mark  of  honor  shall  be  stilted  in  the  Commission  L-onferred. 

Statk  ok  Nkw  Yohk',  in  Att-itiKlii,  April  9th,  1S66. 
The  foreifoiujf  rt'*i>lution  was  duly  pasi»ed.  Ihi  order  of  the  A.rn'uihfi/, 

J.  H/Cl'siiman,  Clerk. 
State  of  Nkw  Yohk,  in  St^nut^,  April  tfoth,  18*»(>. 
'l"I»e  foreK'>i'if?  Keaolulion  was  duly  pa^eed.  //y  onlt-r  of  the  -Senate, 

Jam.  TitKwii.LKiKii,  Clerk. 
*  So  in  orijrinal.  ^^K^mt^^m^m^^^m 

MIMTAHY  At3K\T,  S.  N.  Y..  (in  PZurope,)  1851-'53. 

IIoNOKAiiv  MsMBKitofthe  Mii.iTAiiv  OuDEK  of  the  LoYAi,  LKOii>N  of  the  United  States. 

KiKHT  HoNOUAiiv  Mkmhku  Third  (Army  of  the  f'otomac)  t'orps  Union. 

Mkmhkk  —loth  June,  1872,  Dikkctok—  tf  the  Gkttvhbl'H'J  ItAm.KFiKi.n  Mk.moui  ai.  Akmociation. 

MKMIiKFl    of  the    NfiT)iRni..\Ni»isH    Litkrauy   Association 

[^faatKhapJnJ  (Iff  yetii-rlnntUchc  Lr'terkundil 

at  Levdeu,  Holland. 

RKCfPIKNT,  lH5(i^  of  Thr«e  Silvr  Medah  trom  H.  K.  M,  Oscau,  King  of  Sweden  and  Norway, 

Ai'.,  for  a  Military  Biography  of  TjKonakd  Tokmtknhon,  Field  Marshnl,  (ieueralissinio ; 

of  a  Gold  ^(cdaty  in  1852,  from  Wahhinoton  IU'nt,  (tnvernor  S.  N.  V.,  for 

"  Kfl'orts  t<>  Itnprove  the  Military  System  of  New  York."  Ae.,  Ac, 

and  Suggestions  for  a  Paid  Kire  Department,  with 

Steam  Kire  Engines,  &c.,  kc. ; 

of  a  Oold  Atedal,  in  l^fr?,  from  the  Fikld  and  Staff  OFFrcHiis  of  his  Command,  !>tU 

Brig.,  '.id  Div.,  N.Y.S. Troops,  *'  In  Testimony  of  their  Ksteemand  Appreciation  of 

'*  Efforts  towards  the  Establishment  of  an  Ettieient  Militia,  Ac;  in  1870,  of 

H  Magnitieent  BAnoK,  Mkdai.  and  (^lasi*,  voted  at  the  Annual 

Meeting  of  the  Third  Citrps  (Army  of  the  Potomac) 

Union,  held  at  Boston,  Ma:»s.,  Tlmrsdav, 

/1th  May,  1870,  when 

".■I  R'HidntiiiH  was  adopted  to  present  a  Gidd  Hedal  of  the  value  of  l^.iMO  to  (ie.i.  .1,  Watts  pk 

Pkvstkr,  of  New  York,  as  a  testimonial  of  the  appreciation  by  the  ("orps  of  his  eminent 

jtiri'irt'M   in  placing  upon   record  the  true  history  of  its  a4'iiievernents,  and  in  defending  its 

■■ommanders  and  their  men  from  written  abuse  and  misrepresentation  ;" — 

and  of  several  other  Badges,  Medals,  etc.,  for  services  in  connection   with  the  military  service 

of  the  State  of  New  York. 

HONORARY   MEMBER  of  the  New   Teksey  and  of  tlie  Minnesota  Histokhai.  Societiks, 

and  of  the  Piiuenokosmian  Society  of  Pennsylvania  Coli.ere,  Gettijahurg ; 

nf  th(*  PiuLosoiMiyn  Society,  M'hiionart/  fnt'itutef  Selin^g  Orove\ 

and  of  the 
I  Nebraska  Cittt, 


just 


(of  whii 
A' 


to  whom  the 


Pkyster, 
National  Bard  of  Scotland"  atldressetl. 


h,or  J\jng's  J^oot.  B.  A.,  was  Colone 

St  beiore^ft  .lSatJi,«lH  J7i»li,  ftft  *•  PUieil  OX  *LlFiE|"l  ,  .       , 

•  *Hnd  ^i»K*M5MnKi^  ^f  t|Je  Sx-iN^cHOtAw  Stinxr  of«VE\f  YAuk, 
lich    ^ty  po»iA#iN*H  i»w  pKY#-HP-\^*(i(  flf"  Mc'm^H'' V^  (Af»AVuf  VlWiV*  trait  Si-hefpf-n.  IflSJi, 
fderman,  \Ut,  /niri7oj/i1i.«'5-,«16l;)s  Dtynti/  Matfor^  K\li.  [  jf'^*/o^al/y'^^'fred  and  rejuaed.) 

MEMBER 

of  the  Nkw  York,  of  the   Rhodk    Island  (Newport)  and  of  the  Pennsylvania  Histokual 

SociKTiBK,  and  of  the  Military  Association  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

LIFE   MEMBER 

of  the  HiaToaiCAi.  Society  of  Michigan, 

and  of  the  Numismatic  ani>  ARCiiJioi.o<;ii:AL  Society  of  New  York. 

CORRESPONDIXr;    MEMBER 

of  the  State  Historical  Sociktieh  of  Maine,  of  Vermont,  of  Rhode  Inland,  (Providence,) 

of  CoNNEOTict'T  ftud  of  WISCONSIN  ;  of  the  LoNrt  Island  and  of  the  Blkpalo 

Historical  Societies  ;  of  the  New  England  IIisToitio-(*ENFALouicAL 

Socikvy  ;  of  the  Quehec  Litbkakv  and  Historical  Society; 

of  the  NlMIWMATIC  AND   A  NTIQU  AUI A  V   SoCIBTY 

of  Phh.apki.phia,  (Pennsylvania,) 
jtic,  etc.,  etc. 


THE    BURGOYNE    CAMPAIGN 


Mr.  Chairman,  Citizens  of  Saratoga  County, 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen  : 

To  appear  before  you  on  this  interesting  occasion,  com- 
memoralive  of  an  important  event  in  the  annals  of  the  State  and 
country,  is  to  me  not  only  a  signal  honor  and  a  grateful  task 
but  a  filial  duty.  Proud  to  be  chosen  to  recite  the  incidents 
of  the  campaign  which  culminated  in  the  surrender  of  the  first 
British  army  to  the  infant  republic,  it  is  a  source  of  still 
greater  pride  to  me  that  I  am  thus  permitted  to  link  my  own 
name  in  the  chain  of  history  with  that  of  my  grandfather, 
Col.  Ebenezer  Stevens,  of  the  Continental  army,  who,  on  this 
field,  a  century  ago,  directed,  as  Major  Commandant  of  the 
Artillery  of  the  Northern  Department,  the  operations  of  that 
arm  of  the  service  which  in  great  measure  contributed  to  and 
secured  the  final  success  of  the  American  troops. 

The  ground  on  which  we  stand  is  memorable.  Before  the 
discovery  of  the  continent,  this  territory,  at  whose  southern 
angle  we  are  now  gathered,  was  the  battle-field  of  the  Indian 
tribes,  whose  war  trails  lay  upon  its  boundaries,  and  from  the 
days  of  European  settlement  it  has  been  the  debatable  ground 
of  the  French  and  Dutch,  the  French  and  English,  and  the 
colonists  and  English,  by  turns.  Here  the  fate  of  Ameri- 
can empire  has  been  repeatedly  sealed.  Not  because  of  its 
matchless  beauty  of  hill  and  dale,  its  mirrored  lakes  and  crys- 
tal  streams,  its   invigorating  atmosphere  and  perfect  skies, 


33520 


SARATOGA — HISTORIC   GROUND. 


nor  yet  because  of  its  unmeasured  forests  and  fertile  fields, 
was  this  old  territory  of  Saratoga  and  Kayadcrosseras  the 
object  of  rivalry  and  contention.  Its  possession  was  of 
supreme  military  importance.  The  Mohawk  pours  into  the 
Hudson  at  its  southernmost  limit  ;  its  borders  are  protected 
by  their  waters,  while  a  series  of  declivities,  descending  from 
the  mountain  ranges  of  Luzerne  and  Kayadcrosseras  and  ter- 
minating in  groups  of  isolated  hills,  present  an  admirable 
strategic  point.  The  discovery  of  Lake  Champlain  in  1609, 
by  the  brave  Frenchman  whose  name  it  bears,  and  the  sailing 
up  the  Hudson  by  Henry  Hudson,  the  same  year,  gave  rise  to 
a  contest  for  its  possession  between  the  Canadian  and  New 
York  colonists  which  lasted  for  more  than  a  century  and  a  half. 

The  French  settlements  spread  rapidly  up  the  St.  Lawrence 
and  far  into  the  western  country,  while  the  Dutch  and  Eng- 
lish slowly  and  methodically  pushed  their  way  along  the  Hud- 
son, and  thence  by  the  Mohawk  to  the  great  interior  lakes. 
From  the  mouth  of  the  Mohawk,  northward,  skirting  the 
shores  of  the  Hudson  and  the  lakes,  lay  the  highway  between 
the  rival  settlements  and  posts.  In  its  route  it  passed  the 
carrying-places  of  the  Indians.  Over  this  road,  then  but  an 
Indian  trail,  the  troops  of  Frontenac  passed  in  1693,  on  their 
way  to  strike  the  fortified  villages  of  the  Mohawk.  Upon  it 
Colonel  Schuyler  built  the  forts  from  Stillwater  to  Fort  Ann, 
in  the  war  of  1709. 

In  the  campaigns  of  1744  and  175 5)  the  French  ar.d  their 
Indian  allies,  with  war-whoop,  scalping-knife  and  tomahawk, 
swept  down  through  the  forests  to  the  settlements  of  this 
region  ;  and  in  the  seven  years'  war  that  followed,  from  1755  to 
1763,  it  was  by  this  road  that  Abercrombie  led  his  troops  to 
defeat  and  Amherst  to  the  final  triumph  of  the  English  arms  ; 
and  here  again  swept  back  and  forth  the  tide  of  war  in  alter- 
nate ebb  and  flow  during  the  earlier  period  of  the  American 
Revolution. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  contest  the  spirit  of  the  colonies 
was  little  understood  in  England.  Notwithstanding  the 
warning  of  the  American  agents,  it  was  believed  .hat  the  war 


}  INDEPENDENCE,  A   CERTAINITY.  5 

t 

'  would  be  localized  in  Massachusetts,  and  that  General  Gage 

1  and   a  few  regiments  would   easily  reduce  the  rebellious  col- 

ony. The  uprising  of  the  continent  in  reply  to  the  guns  at 
Lexington  dispelled  this  illusion,  and  the  British  Ministry 
awakening  to  the  magnitude  of  their  undertaking,  plans  were 
laid  for  a  continental  campaign. 

Here  a  protest  may  be  pardoned  against  the  assumption  of 
those  who  have  doubted  the  ability  of  the  colonies  to  main- 
tain the  liberty  they  had  asserted  without  the  French  inter- 
vention, which  the  victory  of  Saratoga  secured  to  the  Ameri- 
can cause.  A  careful  examination  of  the  letters  and  news- 
papers of  the  day,  which,  in  the  words  of  Webster,  are  the 
only  true  sources  of  historic  information,  will  show  that  the 
colonists  never  doubted  of  their  cause,  and  that  they  knew 
the  reason  of  the  faith  that  was  in  them.  They  were  fully 
aware  of  the  numbers  they  had  contributed  to  the  British 
forces  in  the  Canadian  conquest,  and  of  the  prowess  they  had 
displayed  side  by  side  with  the  best  of  the  British  regiments. 
They  were  also  informed  of  the  extreme  difficulty  with 
which  the  home  Government  obtained  its  recruits.  Already 
in  the  middle  of  the  last  century,  under  the  atrocious  land 
system  of  England  and  the  development  of  manufactures, 
the  agricultural  population,  the  yeomanry,  hardy  sons  of 
the  soil,  which  is  the  base  of  every  great  military  state,  had 
been  fast  disappearing.  It  was  in  1770,  before  the  Revolution, 
that  Goldsmith,  the  poet  of  the  people,  breathed  his  lament 
over  the  happy  days  long  past — 

"  Ere  Fngland's  grief  began, 
When  every  rood  of  land  maintained  its  man." 

The  words  of  the  poet  were  as  familiar  to  Americans  as  to 
their  English  parents,  and  they  had  received  "a  striking  con- 
firmation in  the  enlistment  by  the  Ministry  of  Hessian  mer- 
cenaries, whose  appearance  in  the  colonies,  while  exciting  the 
indignation  of  the  patriots,  was  positive  proof  of  the  unpopu- 
larity of  the  war  in  England  and  the  weakness  of  the  mother 
country. 


I 


OCCUPATION  OF  CANADA. 


The  earlier  movements  of  the  colonial  leaders  show  that 
they  were  thoroughly  acquainte  \  with  the  art  of  war  in  its 
larger  sense.  They  recognized  the  value  of  the  great  lines  of 
water  communication — the  St.  Lawrence  and  the  Hudson — 
and  foresaw  that  the  first  efforts  of  the  British  Ministry  would 
be  to  control  their  mouths,  from  which,  by  their  superior 
naval  power,  they  could  force  the  passages  of  the  rivers  and 
divide  the  territory.  The  Northern  and  Eastern  people  recog- 
nized this  intuitively,  and  gave  point  and  direction  to  the 
movement  toward  Canada  by  the  seizure  of  Ticonderoga  and 
Crown  Point  at  the  outset  of  hostilities.  These  important 
posts  were  surprised  by  the  Eastern  militia.  Their  artillery 
and  stores  were  of  priceless  value  to  the  Continental  cause. 

The  road  to  the  St.  Lawrence  thus  opened,  and  the  temper 
of  the  Canadians  and  Indians  of  the  lower  provinces  favoring 
the  undertaking,  it  was  resolved  by  Congress,  in  June,  1775,  to 
take  possession  of  St.  John  and  Montreal,  and  General  Schuy- 
ler was  intrusted  with  the  command  of  the  forces  destined  for 
that  purpose.  No  appointment  could  have  been  more  appro- 
priate than  this.  A  gentleman  of  large  landed  estate  in  the 
northern  section,  thoroughly  conversant  with  its  resources 
and  topography,  and  familiar  not  only  with  the  habits  and 
customs  of  the  frontier  population,  but  also  wielding  a  great 
personal  influence  with  the  Indian  tribes,  he  was  the  only  man 
who  could  effectually  neutralize  the  efforts  of  the  British 
agent?  to  influence  the  savages,  who  had  always  taken  an  active 
part  in  the  border  warfare.  Moreover,  his  great  wealth  and 
family  alliances  gave  strength  to  the  cause.  Selecting  Ticon- 
deroga as  his  natural  base  of  operations,  Schuyler  built  boats 
for  a  movement  to  surprise  St.  John,  a  position  so  important 
that  it  was  called  by  the  British  officers  the  key  of  Canada. 

It  is  not  possible  here  to  recount  the  various  incidents  of 
the  campaign.  On  the  3d  of  November,  i775>  after  a  siege  of 
fifty  days,  the  garrison  at  St.  John  capitulated  to  Montgomery, 
whom  Schuyler,  forced  by  illness,  contracted  in  the  wet,  un- 
healthy country,  to  return  to  Ticonderoga,  had  left  in  com- 
mand.    On  the  1 2th  Montgomery  was  at  Montreal.     Mean- 


RETREAT   FROM   CANADA. 


while,  Wash inf^ ton,  to  create  a  diversion  in  favor  of  the  main 
movement,  had  sent  Arnold  by  the  way  of  the  Kennebec  and 
the  Chaudiere  to  a  direct  attat  on  Quebec.  After  incredible 
hardships,  in  the  midst  of  a  winter  remarkable  for  its  in- 
clemency, Arnold  reached  Point  Levi,  opposite  Quebec,  on 
the  loth  November.  The  junction  of  Montgomery  and 
Arnold  was  made  on  the  3d  December. 

On  the  morning  of  the  last  day  of  the  year  the  assault  was 
made  ;  the  Americans  were  repulsed,  and  Montgomery  fell. 
Thus  ended  the  offensive  movement  upon  Cana''  •..  Its  result 
was  the  permanent  holding  by  the  British  of  tii.;  post  of  Que- 
bec—  which  became  impregnable  with  the  reinforcements  re- 
ceived from  England — and  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  for 
a  naval  movement  toward  the  lakes.  In  the  beginning  of 
1776  efforts  were  made  to  strengthen  the  American  force  in 
Canada;  and  the  old  road  by  the  riverside,  from  Albany 
through  Stillwater  and  Saratoga,  was  again  trodden  by  thou- 
sands of  recruits,  marching  to  almost  certain  death  by  battle 
or  disease.  Upon  the  death  of  Montgomery  the  command  of 
the  army  before  Quebec  devolved  on  Wooster.  He  was 
superseded  by  Thomas  in  May.  The  small-pox  was  raging. 
To  convey  an  idea  of  the  extent  to  which  it  had  ravaged  the 
army,  it  is  only  necessary  to  state  that,  on  taking  command, 
Thomas  found  that  of  1,900  men  and  officers  900  were  sick, 
chiefly  with  this  disease.  A  retreat  was  ordered,  but  the  rein- 
forced garrison  sallying  suddenly  forth,  the  artillery  was  aban- 
doned, and  the  Americans  fled  in  precipitation.  In  June 
Thomas  died  of  the  small-pox  at  Chamblee,  leaving  Sullivan  in 
command.  An  attempt  by  the  new  chief  to  arrest  the  retreat 
was  the  cause  of  further  disaster.  Thompson,  who  led  an  expe- 
dition against  Three  Rivers,  fell  into  an  ambuscade,  and  was 
defeated  by  General  Eraser.  Among  the  British  troops  en- 
gaged were  some  who,  arrived  from  England  with  the  reinforce- 
ments under  Burgoyne,  had  been  piloted  past  Quebec  by  the 
order  j  of  the  sagacious  Carleton  in  the  very  transports  that 
had  conveyed  them  across  the  ocean,  and  pushed  up  the 
river  to  the  scene  of  action.     Already  the  vast  importance  of 


8 


DEPLORABLE  CONDITION  OF  THE  TROOPS. 


the  river  as  a  means  of  military  communication  was  apparent. 
The  remainder  of  the  fleet  wi'h  tlie  British  reinforcements 
coming-  up,  the  post  of  Sorel  was  abandoned  by  tlie  Ameri- 
cans and  the  retreat  again  began.  So  close  was  the  pursuit 
that  the  British  advance  entered  Chaniblee  as  the  American 
rear  left  the  town.  At  St.  John  they  were  joined  by  Arnold 
from  Montreal.  Firing  the  city,  they  again  fell  back  to  Isle 
aux  Noix,  and  thence,  slowly  pursued  by  Burgoyne,  to  Crown 
Pointj  which  they  reached  in  the  last  days  of  June.      [1776.] 

So  ended  the  invasion  of  Canada,  an  expedition  remark- 
able for  its  display  of  human  suffering,  human  energy,  and 
human  endurance.  History  may  be  searched  in  vain  for  ex- 
amples of  greater  pertinacity  under  disaster,  greater  vigor 
under  the  severest  trials.  The  fragments  of  the  gallant 
bands  which  had  united  before  Quebec  and  were  now  huddled 
together  at  Crown  Point  presented  a  picture  which  wrung 
the  stoutest  hearts.  I'estilence  was  in  their  countenances. 
Pestilence  infested  the  very  air  ;  not  a  tent  in  which  there  was 
not  a  dead  or  dying  man.  The  bones  of  the  heroic  Mont- 
gomery and  his  aide-de-camp,  McPhcrson,  lay  within  the  walls 
of  Quebec  ;  Burr  and  Lamb  were  prisoners  ;  Arnold  still 
chafed  under  a  painful  wound,  and  the  army  itself  had  dwin- 
dled to  a  handful  of  emaciated  skeletons.  The  troops  at 
Crown  Point  now  fell  under  the  authority  of  General  Schuyler. 
r>om  the  beginning  the  ill-health  of  Schuyler  had  rendered  it 
impossible  for  him  to  take  the  field  at  the  head  of  the  army ; 
moreover,  his  great  organizing  spirit,  his  tireless  energy, 
were  of  more  service  co  the  cause  at  the  Albany  headquarters, 
where  his  encouraging  presence  was  indispensable. 

Arnold  arrived  at  Albany  with  news  of  the  retreat  from 
Canada  on  the  24th  o'"  June.  The  next  day  Schuyler  received 
information  of  the  appoint"  ent  of  Major-General  Gates  to 
the  command  of  the  forces  in  Canada. 

The  instructions  to  Gates  gave  him  unusual  powers.  A 
question  of  jurisdiction  at  once  arose,  however,  between  him- 
self and  Schuyler,  which  they  agreed  to  submit  to  Congress, 
which   on   the    8th   d'^termined  it  by  leaving   the  supreme 


/ 


/ 


GATES  TAKES   COMMAND.  9 

authority  to  Schuyler  while  this  side  of  Canada,  and  "r  Gates 
when  on  the  other  side  of  the  line. 

Horatio  Gates,  who  now  first  appears  upon  the  scene  on 
the  Canadian  frontier,  was  of  ICnj^lish  birth.  The  son  of  a 
clergyman,  he  received  his  name  from  his  godfather,  Horace 
Walpole,  tinder  whose  protection  he  early  entered  the  British 
service,  and  rose  rapidly  to  the  rank  of  major.  His  regiment 
being  ordered  to  America,  he  was  badly  wounded  in  the 
Braddock  campaign.  Later  he  distinguished  himself  by  his 
bravery  and  capacity  as  an  aide  to  Monckton  on  the  expedition 
against  Martinique.  At  the  close  of  the  French  war  Ik;  pur- 
chased a  fine  estate  in  Berkeley  County,  Va. ,  and  became 
a  successful  farmer.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolution 
he  volunteered  his  services  to  Congress,  and  receiving  the 
rank  of  brigadier,  v/as  chosen  adjutant-general  of  the  army. 
In  this  capacity  his  military  experience  and  training  were  of 
great  value  in  the  organization  of  the  Continental  forces, 
and  he  was  thus  engaged  in  daily  communication  with  Gen- 
eral Washington  when  he  was  assigned  to  his  new  command. 
He  had  been  elected  by  Congress  to  the  rank  of  major-gen- 
eral in  May. 

Sullivan,  taking  oftence  at  Gates'  appointment,  had  retired 
from  the  army  at  Crown  Point,  the  command  of  which  was 
now  assumed  by  Gates.  A  council  of  war,  at  which  Schuyler, 
Gates,  Sullivan,  Arnold,  and  Baron  de  Woedtke  were  pres- 
ent, considering  Crowrx  Point  as  not  tenable,  ordered  a 
withdrawal  to  Ticonderoga,  which  was  effected.  This  gave 
great  umbrage  to  Colonel  Stark  and  other  New  Eng- 
land officers,  who  remonstrated  with  Schuyler  against  the 
move.  The  council  which  ordered  the  withdrawal  also 
resolved  upon  the  defence  of  Lake  Champlain,  by  a  naval 
armament  of  gondolas,  row  galleys,  and  armed  batteaux. 

On  the  i6th  of  July  Gates  reported  that  the  loss  sustained 
by  death  and  desertion  during  the  campaign  amounted  to 
more  than  five  thousand  men,  and  that  three  thousand  more 
were  sick.  The  army  gradually  recovered  its  health  and 
spirits,  the  defences  of  Ticonderoga  and  Mount  Independence 


lO 


INVASION   OF  NEW   YORK, 


were  strengthened,  connection  was  made  between  the  camp 
and  the  road  to  Skenesborough,  guns  were  mounted,  and,  in 
a  word,  every  endeavor  made  to  secure  the  northern  gateway 
of  the  New  York  colony.  Though  a  further  offensive  move- 
ment against  Canada  seemed  no  longer  practicable,  the  line 
of  the  Hudson  and  the  lakes  was  of  paramount  importance. 
While  all  eyes  were  turned  in  this  direction,  danger  suddenly 
appeared  at  the  other  end  of  the  line.  New  York  City  was 
invested  by  the  most  powerful  fleet  that  had  ever  appeared 
in  these  western  waters,  and  Washington  was  threatened  by 
Lord  Howe  with  a  force  of  thirty  thousand  men.  In  July, 
Long  Island  was  occupied  by  the  enemy  ;  in  September,  New 
York  fell  into  their  permanent  possession,  and  Washington 
retreated  to  the  mainland. 

The  naval  armament  prepared  for  the  defence  of  Lake 
Champlain,  by  Arnold  and  the  Americans,  with  incredible 
patience  and  labor,  consisted  of  eight  gondolas,  three  row  gal- 
leys, and  four  sloops  or  schooners,  but  when  finished  there  were 
only  landsmen  to  command  and  soldiers  to  manoeuvre  them. 
Arnold,  it  is  true,  had  gamed  some  experience  as  a  super- 
cargo on  West  India  voyages  ;  yet,  with  his  usual  careless 
imprudence,  he  left  the  main  channel  of  Lake  Champlain  free, 
and  on  the  4th  of  October  sailed  into  the  open  lake.  Mean- 
while Carleton,  assisted  by  shipbuilders  fi'om  England,  with 
abundant  material  from  the  Admiralty  and  the  fleet  on  the 
Canac'ian  stations,  had  constructed  more  than  two  hundred 
flat-boat^  at  Montreal,  and  hauled  them  to  St.  John,  where 
they  were  launched  and  manned  by  seven  hundred  sailors  and 
picked  officers  from  the  shlps-of-war  and  a  large  force  of  Ger- 
man sharpshooters  and  light  artillery  trained  for  the  special 
service.  On  the  nth  he  sailed  into  the  lake,  and  taking 
the  main  passage  which  Arnold  had  left  open,  fell  on  the 
American  rear.  A  sharp  action  ensued,  and  for  two  days 
a  running  fight  was  maintained.  Arnold's  vessel  sustained 
the  contest  to  the  last,  but  was  finally  driven  into  a  creek 
on  the  eastern  shore,  where  she  was  fired,  the  crew  marching 
away  in  perfect  order,  with  colors  flying. 


CARLETON  RETIRES   TO   QUEBEC. 


II 


On  the  14th  Carleton  landed  X  Crown  Point,  the  master 
of  the  lake.  Two  hours  distant  lay  Ticonderoga,  an  easy 
prey.  But  further  movement  was  not  his  intention.  He 
returned  to  Canada,  and  went  into  winter  quarters  in  No- 
vember. Thus  was  the  golden  opportunity  lost  for  a  junc- 
tion of  his  forces  with  those  of  Lord  Howe,  This  military 
blunder  must  not  be  ascribed  to  Carleton,  who  had  re- 
ceived explicit  instructions  from  Lord  Germain  to  return  to 
Quebec  and  re-establish  good  order  and  government  in  the 
province.  He  was  also  directed  to  send  a  deta-hment,  under 
Burgoyne  or  some  other  officer,  to  reinforce  General  Howe  at 
New  York.  When  Gates  heard  that  Carleton  had  turned  his 
back  0.1  Crown  Point  he  dismissed  the  militia,  which  had 
rallied  in  large  numbers  to  his  support.  He  had  no  provis- 
ions for  their  maintenance,  and  no  ammunition  for  an  offensive 
movement,  had  such  a  movement  been  desirable.  The  season 
of  1776  closed  with  Quebec  and  New  York  in  the  hands  of 
the  British.  The  lines  of  invasion  by  the  St.  Lawrence  and 
lower  Hudson  wcjl'  entirely  open  to  the  enemy.  Schuyler 
was  at  Albany,  indefatigable  in  his  labors  to  secure  the 
northern  defences,  and  Washington  in  the  Jerseys,  covering 
the  Highlands,  and  ready  to  move  on  any  menaced  point. 

Having  thus  endeavored  as  hurriedly  as  possible  to  sketch 
the  Canada  campaign  from  its  promising  beginning  to  its 
disastrous  close,  a  few  words  may  be  permitted  before  pass- 
ing to  the  consideration  of  the  events  of  1777,  which  we  are 
to-day  celebrating,  as  to  the  attitude  and  position  of  New 
York  at  this  juncture.  For  both  the  offensive  campaign  of 
1776  and  the  defensive  campaign  of  1777  Northern  New  York, 
with  Albany  as  its  centre,  was  the  base  of  operations.  It  was 
the  Albany  Committee  of  Safety  which  first  garrisoned  Ticon- 
deroga after  its  capture.  At  Albany,  arms,  ammunition, 
and  supplies  were  gathered.  There  guns  were  mounted,  am- 
munition fixed,  cartridges  prepared,  i'he  magazines,  arsenals, 
and  laboratories  were  there.  Till  the  final  peace  in  1783, 
Albany  was  not  only  the  secure  base  for  all  the  operations  of 
the  Northern  Department,  but  the  supply  point  whence  the 
material  of  war  was  drawn  even  for  distant  expeditions. 


12 


PATRIOTISM   AND   PRIVATIONS  OF  NEW   YORK. 


Unfoitunately  for  the  perfect  fame  of  our  great  State,  jus- 
tice has  never  yet  been  done  to  its  history.  The  Dutch  period 
has  been  admirably  portrayed  by  O'Cailaghan  and  Broadhcad, 
but  the  recital  of  her  struggle  for  liberty  and  independence 
through  the  whole  of  the  eighteenth  century  yet  awaits  the 
pen  of  some  one  of  her  gifted  sons.  When  it  shall  be  written, 
it  will  be  found  that  she  was  second  co  none  in  devotion  to 
the  principles  of  individual  freedom,  not  for  herself  alone,  but 
for  all  ihe  colonies.  Her  first  commercial  corporation  dis- 
played this  feeling  in  the  adoption  of  the  generous  motto  : 
"  Nou  nobis  nati  solum  " — we  are  not  born  for  ourselves 
alone,  and  during  her  subsequent  history  this  has  been  her 
marked  characteristic. 

Her  central  position  made  her  the  seat  of  war  and  sub- 
jected her  to  privations  and  sufferings  which  were  unknown 
to  the  other  colonies.  Indeed,  her  calamities  were  a  source 
of  profit  to  her  Eastern  neighbors.  When  New  York  flour- 
ished they  participated  in  her  commerce  and  shared  her  pros- 
perity, but  when  by  the  fortune  of  war  her  opulent  seaport 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  she  was  not  only  burdened 
by  a  large  population  which  had  depended  upon  the  luxury 
and  trade  of  the  capital,  but,  by  an  unjust  customs  discrimina- 
tion, was  compelled  to  pay  tribute  to  neighboring  colonies, 
who  refused  to  permit  the  passage  through  their  territory  of 
goods  intended  for  consumption  within  her  borders  without 
payment  of  an  import  duty  to  themselves.  This  injustice  was 
loMg  remembered.  There  were  other  sufferings  greater  than 
the  paralysis  of  trade.  There  was  not  a  county  in  the  State 
which  was  not  at  some  time  overrun  by  the  enemy,  carrying 
with  them  devastation  and  ruin.  And  still  more  terrible,  her 
defenceless  homes  v/ere  exposed  to  the  merciless  savages, 
armed  and  incited  by  the  ruthless  policy  of  Great  Britain. 
The  traditions  of  these  sufferings  have  been  handed  down 
among  our  people,  and  form  the  thrilling  incident  of  legend 
and  of  song. 

After  the  return  of  Carleton  to  Quebec,  Burgoyne,  whose 
ambition  was  not  satisfied  with  a  secondary  command,  ob- 


BURGOYNE  PLANS   A  CAMPAIGN. 


13 


tained  in  December  a  leave  of  absence  and  returned  to  Eng- 
land, where  he  was  sure  of  court  favor.  Of  obscure  and 
probably  illegitimate  birth,  he  had  allied  himself  by  a  runa- 
way match  with  Lady  Stanley,  a  daughter  of  the  Earl  of 
Derby.  Imm.ediately  on  his  arrival  he  offered  his  services  to 
the  King  in  a  personal  interview,  and  submitted  his  views  in 
a  paper,  entitled  "  Thoughts  for  Conducting  the  War  from 
the  side  of  Canada,"  on  the  28th  of  February,  1777.  In  this 
plan  we  find  for  the  first  time  a  thoroughly  devised  scheme 
for  the  junction  of  the  Canadian  army  with  that  of  General 
Howe.  The  Canada  army,  operating  from  Ticonderoga,  was 
to  take  possession  of  Albany,  and  after  opening  communica- 
tion with  New  York,  to  remain  upon  the  Hudson  River,  and 
thereby  enable  Howe  to  act  with  his  whole  force  to  the  south- 
ward. The  plan  included  a  diversion  by  the  Mohawk,  and  a 
rising  of  the  loyalists  in  that  region  by  means  of  an  expedition 
under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  St.  Leger.  The 
King's  remarks  upon  this  plan  still  exist  in  the  original  docu- 
ment, in  his  handwriting  in  the  British  Museum.  His  criticism 
of  it  shows  strong  common  sense,  and  a  thorough  knowl- 
edge of  the  field  of  action  in  America.  The  point  which  will 
be  found  of  most  interest  is  his  urgent  recommendation 
*'  that  possession  should  be  taken  of  Lake  George."  Noth- 
ing, he  says,  "  but  an  absolute  impossibility  of  succeeding  in 
this  can  be  an  excuse  for  proceeding  by  South  Bay  and 
Skenesborough,"  which  Eurgoyne  had  suggested  as  an  al- 
ternative. With  regard  to  the  Indians,  the  King  says  that 
"  they  must  be  employed." 

The  order  of  the  campaign  being  definitely  arranged,  Lord 
Germain  addressed  instructions  to  General  Carleton,  on  the 
20th  March,  and  the  next  day  Burgoyne  lelt  London  for  Ply- 
mouth to  take  passage  for  Canada.  He  arrived  at  Quebec  on 
the  6th  May.  Carleton  immediately  put  under  his  command 
the  troops  destined  for  the  expedition  and  committed  to  his 
management  the  preparatory  arrangements.  Before  he  left 
PlymDuth  Burgoyne  had  advised  Sir  William  Howe  of  his  pur- 
pose "o  effect  a  junction  with  him,  and  he  also  sent  him  a 


14 


THE   CAMPAIGN   OPENED. 


second  letter  to  the  same  effect  from  Quebec.  On  the  lOth 
June  he  issued  his  orders  for  the  general  disposition  of  the  army 
at  St.  John.  The  movements  of  the  troops  were  somewhat 
delayed  by  bac*  weather  and  bad  roads,  but  notwithstanding 
all  impediments  the  army  of  invasion  assembled  between  the 
17th  and  20th  June  at  Cumberland  Point,  near  the  foot  of 
Lake  Champlain.  On  the  2ist  he  held  a  conference  with  the 
Indian  tribes  at  the  camp  on  the  River  Bouquet.  Btn"goyne, 
with  the  main  body,  reached  Crown  Point  on  the  27th  June. 
Many  accounts  have  been  written  of  the  picturesque  appear- 
ance of  the  brilliant  array  of  the  British  army  as  it  passed  up 
the  lake.  That  of  Captain  Thomas  Anburey,  an  educated 
young  officer  in  the  British  service,  and  an  eye-witness  of  the 
scenes  he  described,  deserves  repetition.  "  It  moved,"  he 
says,  "  by  brigades,  gradually  advancing  from  seventeen  to 
twenty  miles  a  day,  and  regulated  in  such  a  manner  that  the 
second  brigade  should  take  the  encampment  of  the  first,  and 
so  on,  each  successively  filling  the  ground  the  other  quitted. 
The  time  for  departure  was  always  at  daybreak."  The  spec- 
tacle the  enthusiastic  young  gentleman  portrays  as  one  of  the 
most  pleasing  he  ever  beheld.  "  When  in  the  widest  part  of 
the  lake  it  was  remarkably  fine  and  clear,  not  a  breeze  stirring, 
when  the  whole  army  appeared  at  one  view  in  such  perfect 
regularity  as  to  form  the  most  complete  and  splendid  regatta 
ever  beheld.  In  the  front  the  Indians  went  in  their  birch 
canoes,  containing  twenty  or  thirty  in  each  ;  then  the  advanced 
corps  in  a  regular  line  with  the  gun-boats  ;  then  followed  the 
Royal  George  and  Inflexible,  towing  large  booms,  which  are 
to  be  thrown  across  two  points  of  land,  with  the  other  brigs 
and  sloops  following  ;  after  them  the  brigades  in  their  order." 
On  the  30th  Burgoyne  issued  his  famous  order  :  "  This  army 
embarks  to-morrow  to  approach  the  enemy.  The  services  re- 
quired of  this  particular  expedition  are  critical  and  conspicu- 
ous. During  our  progress  occasions  may  occur  in  which  nor 
difficulty  nor  labor  nor  life  are  to  be  regarded.  This  army 
must  not  retreat."  An  advanced  corps,  under  command  of 
General  Fraser,  was  ordered  up  the  west  shore  of  the  lake  to 


THE  ARMY   OF  BURGOYNE. 


15 


a  point  four  miles  from  Ticonderoga,  and  the  German  reserve, 
under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Breyman,  moved  up  the  eastern 
shore. 

On  the  1st  July  the  whole  army  made  a  movement  forward, 
encamping  in  two  lines,  the  right  wing  at  the  four  mile  point, 
the  left  nearly  opposite,  on  the  east  shore.     Two  frigates  with 
gun-boats  lay  at  anchor,  covering  the  lake  from  the  east  to 
the  west  shores.     Just  beyond  cannon-shot  lay  the  American 
batteries.  The  effective  strength  of  the  army  of  invasion  at  this 
period  is  precisely  known.     Burgoyne  himself  stated  it  to  have 
been  on  the  ist  July,  the  day  before  he  encamped  before  Ticon- 
deroga, at  7,390  men,  exclusive  of  artillery.     These  were  com- 
posed of:  British  rank  and  file  3,724,  German  rank  and  file, 
3,016  ;  in  all  6,740  regulars  ;  Canadians  and  provincials,  about 
250  ;    Indians  about  400  ;  the  artillerymen   numbered  473. 
The  total  force  was  therefore  7,863  men.     The  field  train  con- 
sisted of  forty-two  \    'ces,  and  was  unusually  complete  in  all 
its  details.     Burgoyne  in  his  narrative  complained  that  the 
force  of  Canadians,  which  was  estimated  in  the  plan  at  2,000, 
did  not  exceed   150;  a  significant  circumstance,  as  showing 
the  correctness  of  the  American  estimate  of  the  temper  of  the 
province.     Of  the  discipline  of  the  British  and  German  troops 
nothing  need  be  said  ;  they  were  all  drilled  and  experienced 
soldiers.     Among  their  officers  were  many  who  thoroughly 
understood  the  service  in  which  they  were  engaged  and  the 
topography  of  the  country  in  which  they  were  to  act.     Bur- 
goyne had  served  with  credit,  and  had  distinguished  himself 
by  his  dash  and  gallantry  in  Portugal,  and  had  also  the  knowl- 
edge acquired  in  Canada  the  year  previous.     Major-General 
Phillips,  who  commanded  the  artillery,  had  won  high  praise 
at  Minden.     Brigadier-General   Fraser,  who  led  the  picked 
corps  of  light  troops,  had  taken  part  in  the  expedition  against 
Louisburg  and  was  with  Wolfe  at   Quebec,     He  also   had 
served  in  the  Canada  campaign  of  1776.      Riedesel  was  an 
accomplished  officer,  carefully  trained  in  the  service  of  the 
Duke  of  Brunswick,  and  had  been  selected  by  him  to  com- 
mand the  German  contingents,  with  the  rank  of  rnajor-general. 


i6 


FALL  OF  TICONDEROGA. 


The  territory  threatened  by  this  formidable  invasion  was 
again  at  this  period  under  the  sole  control  of  Major-General 
Schuyler,  Congress,  on  the  22d  May,  on  the  recommendation 
of  the  Board  of  War,  having  resolved  that  Albany,  Ticon- 
deroga.  Fort  Stanwix,  and  their  dependencies,  should  form 
the  Northern  Department,  with  General  Schuyler  in  command. 
Vague  reports  of  the  movements  of  Burgoyne  reached  Schuy- 
ler toward  the  middle  of  June,  and  he  at  once  visited  Ticon- 
deroga  to  look  to  its  defences.  No  accurate  information  of 
the  force  or  designs  of  the  enemy  could  be  obtained,  their 
advance  being  thoroughly  covered  by  Indian  scouts,  who  either 
captured  or  drove  in  all  the  reconnoitering  parties  of  the 
Americans.  Nevertheless,  it  was  decided  in  a  council  of 
general  officers,  held  on  the  20th  June,  to  defend  the  post. 
On  the  22d  Schuyler  returned  to  Albany  lo  hurry  on  rein- 
forcements and  provisions,  leaving  the  ga  risen,  which  con- 
sisted of  less  than  twenty -five  hundred  men,  in  command  of 
Major-General  St.  Clair.  This  was  increased  by  the  arrival 
of  nine  hundred  militia  in  the  course  of  a  few  days. 

The  post  at  Ticonderoga,  notwithstanding  its  high  reputa- 
tion, was  not  really  tenable.  It  was  overlooked  by  an  emi- 
nence known  by  the  name  of  Sugar  Hill,  or  Mount  Defiance, 
the  occupation  of  which  had  been  neglected,  either  because 
of  the  supposed  impracticability  of  carrying  guns  to  its  sum- 
mit, or  of  the  weakness  of  the  garrison,  already  spread  over 
an  extensive  area.  St.  Clair  had  expected  an  attack  from  the 
lake  side,  and  had  fortified  to  meet  it,  but  recognized  the  dan- 
ger of  his  situation  when  on  the  morning  of  the  5th  the  British 
were  seen  in  possession  of  Sugar  Hill.  With  his  accustomed 
vigor.  General  Phillips  had  ordered  a  battery  of  artillery  to 
the  top  of  this  eminence,  to  which  the  cannon  were  hoisted 
from  tree  to  tree.  The  occupation  of  Mount  Hope  by  Fraser 
on  the  3d  ha^  already  cut  off  the  line  of  retreat  by  Lake 
George.  There  was  but  one  course  to  pursue — an  immediate 
evacuation  of  the  post  and  a  withdrawal  by  the  only  remain- 
ing line,  that  of  the  lake  to  Skenesborough.  That  night  part 
of  the  cannon  were  safely  embarked  on  batteaux,  those  left 


SKIRMISH    AT   IIUBBARDTON. 


behind  were  spiked,  and  a  hasty  retreat  began  ;  the  sick  and 
the  baggage,  ordnance  and  stores,  were  sent  up  the  lake  un- 
der charge  of  Colonel  Long,  and  the  main  body  crossing  the 
lake  by  the  bridge  to  Mount  Independence  moved  towards 
Skenesborough  by  the  new  road  lately  cut  by  the  garrison, 
to  which  allusion  has  already  been  made.  The  retreat  was 
discovered  at  daylight  on  the  6th,  and  pursuit  instantly  began. 
Fraser,  taking  the  route  pursued  by  the  garrison  with  the 
picket  guard,  hastened  on,  closely  followed  by  Riedesel  in 
support,  while  Burgoyne  opened  a  passage  through  the  bridge 
and  led  the  galleys  in  chase  of  the  battery  up  the  lake.  The 
wind  being  favorable,  he  overtook  the  retreating  flotilla  at 
Skenesborough,  captured  two  of  the  covering  galleys  and 
compelled  the  destruction  of  the  batteaux,  which  were  fired 
by  the  Americans,  who  also  destroyed  the  fort  and  mills  at 
Skenesborough  and  retired  up  Wood  Creek  to  Fort  Ann. 
General  Burgoyne  took  post  at  Skenesborough. 

Meanwhile  the  main  body  of  the  Americans  under  St.  Clair, 
hurrying  along  the  unfinished  road  through  the  wilderness, 
reached  Hubbardton,  twenty-five  miles  distant,  at  one  o'clock 
on  the  6th,  when  a  halt  was  made.  At  five  o'clock,  hearing 
that  the  rear  guard  under  Colonel  Francis,  for  which  he  had 
waited,  was  coming  up,  St.  Clair,  leaving  Colonel  Warner 
with  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  at  Hubbardton,  with  orders 
to  follow  when  they  arrived,  moved  on  to  Castleton,  six  miles 
distant,  which  he  reached  at  dusk.  When  Francis  joined  War- 
ner, they  concluded  to  spend  the  night  at  Hubbardton,  where 
they  were  overtaken  the  next  morning,  when  on  the  point  of 
resuming  their  march,  byFraser's  advance  The  Americans, 
about  twelve  hundred  in  number,  formed  in  a  strong  position 
and  maintained  their  ground  with  spirit  until  the  bugle  of  the 
Hessians  announced  the  approach  of  Riedesel's  corps.  Their 
arrival  decided  the  fortune  of  the  day.  The  Americans 
behaved  vvith  great  bravery  until  overpowered  by  numbers, 
when  they  broke  and  scattered.  The  losses  in  killed  and 
wounded  were  about  equal  on  the  two  sides.  Fraser  led  his 
men  in  person.     Major  Grant,  an  officer  of  high  reputation, 


I8 


THE  AMERICANS   RALLY   AT   FORT   EDWARD. 


was  killed.  The  Earl  of  Balcarras,  who  led  the  light  infantry, 
and  was  now  for  the  first  time  in  action,  was  slightly,  and 
Major  Ackland  severely,  wounded.  Of  the  Americans,  Col- 
onel Francis  fell  while  bravely  rallying  his  men.  St.  Clair, 
hearing  of  the  capture  of  Skencsborough,  struck  into  the 
woods  on  his  left.  At  Rutland  he  found  some  of  Warner's 
fugitives.  Taking  a  circuitous  route,  he  reached  the  Hud- 
son River  at  Batten  Kill,  and  joined  General  Schuyler  at  Fort 
Edward  on  the  12th. 

Schuyler  heard  on  the  morning  of  the  7th,  in  Albany,  rumor 
of  disaster,  and  immediately  started  for  Fort  Edward,  to  take 
command  of  the  troops  there,  and  await  the  arrival  of  Nixon's 
brigade  from  Peekskill,  which  had  been  detached  from  Put- 
nam's command  at  the  Highlands  by  Washington's  orders. 
At  Fort  Edward  he  learned  that  the  party  under  Colonel 
Long  had  turned  at  Fort  Ann  and  checked  the  pursuit.  Set- 
ting fire  to  the  work,  they  pushed  on  to  Fort  Edward,  which 
they  reached  on  the  9th.  St.  Clair,  as  has  been  stated,  did 
not  come  in  till  the  12th.  The  whole  force  under  Schuyler 
consisted  of  seven  hundred  Continental  tioops  and  a  smaller 
number  of  militia,  without  a  single  piece  of  artillery.  St. 
Clair  brought  in  about  fifteen  hundred  men.  On  the  13th 
Nixon  arrived  with  his  brigade  of  six  hundred  from  Albany, 
and  on  the  20th  the  whole  force  fit  for  duty  was  returned  at 
4,467  men,  half-equipped  and  deficient  in  ammunition  and 
every  kind  of  supplies.  Before  them,  at  Skencsborough, 
within  a  day's  forced  march,  lay  Burgoyne  with  his  superior 
force  of  veteran  troops,  flushed  with  victory. 

The  first  period  of  the  campaign,  as  Burgoyne  termed  it 
in  his  narrative  of  his  operations,  ended  at  Skencsborough. 
So  far  his  march  had  been  successful ;  triumphant  even. 
With  proud  exultation  his  general  orders  of  the  loth,  issued 
at  Skencsborough  House,  directed  that  divine  service  should 
be  performed  on  the  next  Sunday  at  the  head  of  the  line  and 
of  the  advanced  corps,  and  a  feii,  de  joie  to  be  fired  at 
sunset  on  the  same  day  with  cannon  and  small  arms  at 
Ticonderoga,  Crown   Point,    the   camp   at   Skencsborough, 


MILITARY   ERROR   OF   BURGOYNE. 


19 


the  camp  at  Castleton,  and  the  post  of  Brcyman's  corps.     In 
the  hour  of  pride  commenced  the  second  period  of  Burgoyne's 
campaign,  which  may  be  termed  the  period  of  his  errors  and 
his  misfortunes.     In  the  plan  hiid  before  the  King,  Burgoyne, 
as  has  ah-eady  been  stated,  had  himself  expressed  his  belief 
that  the  possession  of  Lake  George  was  of  great  consequence 
as   the    most   expeditious   and    most   commodious   route   to 
Albany,  and  that  by  South   Bay  and  Skcnesborough  should 
not  be  attempted  ;  and  the  King  himself  expressed  a  similar 
opinion,  adding  that  nothing  but  an  absolute  impossibility  of 
succeeding  by  Lake  George  should  be  an  excuse  for  proceed- 
ing by  the  other  route.     A  glance   at  the   map,  even  to  one 
not  familiar  with  the  topography  of  the  country,  will  make 
this    apparent.      The    distance    from    Ticonderoga    to    Lake 
George  is  little  over  two  miles.     Lake  George  itself  is  about 
thirty-five  miles  long.     The  petty  naval  force  on   the  lake, 
consisting  of  two  small  schooners,  could  not  have  resisted  a 
brigade  of  gunboats.     Fort  George  could  have  opposed  no 
serious  obstacle  to  the  conqueror  of  "  Ty." 

Gordon  says,  on  military  authority,  and  adds  that  Gates, 
who  was  familiar  with  every  inch  of  ground,  had  repeatedly 
expressed  the  same  opinion,  that  by  a  rapid  movement  with 
light  pieces  Burgoyne  could   have   reached  Albany  by  the 
time  he  got  to  the  Hudson.     This  view  was  corroborated  by 
Captain   Bloomfield,   of  the   Royal  Artillery.      In   evidence 
befo.e  the  committee  of  the  House  of  Commons  on  the  con- 
duct of  the  campaign,  he  said  that  the  artillery  could  have 
been  easily  moved  by  land  from  Fort  George  to  the  Hudson 
River  in  two  days.     Even  when  at  Skcnesborough   the  true 
policy  of  Burgoyne  was  an  immediate  return  to  Ticonderoga 
to  avail  of  the  water  line.     His  orders  were  to  move  by  the 
most  expeditious  route,     njt   General  Burgoyne  had  pro- 
claimed,  "This  army  must  not  retreat,"  and  Phillips,  his 
chief  adviser,  is  known  to  have  held  the  Americans  in  great 
contempt.      Jefferson  said  of  him,   of  personal  knowledge, 
"  that  he  was  the  proudest  man  of  the  proudest  nation  on 
earth."     It  has  been  said  further  that  Burgoyne  was  misled 


20 


SCHUYLER   OBSTRUCTS  THE  ROAD. 


by  Mr.  Skene,  who  bad  persuaded  him  of  a  rising  of  the 
loyalists  in  the  r-'cjion  ;  and  of  Skene,  t'lat  his  main  object  was 
to  secure  the  buildint^  of  a  military  road  through  the  extensive 
property  of  which  he  was  proprietor,  and  which  bore  his 
name.     Skenesborough  is  the  present  Whitehall. 

Burgoync,  in    excuse  for  his  delays,  says   that,  from   the 
nature  of  the  country  and  the  necessity  of  waiting  a  fresh 
supply  of  provisions,  it  was  impossible  to  follow  the  quick 
retreat  of  the  Americans,  and  considered  the  short  cut  from 
Fort  Ann  to  Fort  lulward,  though  attended  with  great  labor, 
as  the  most  available  route.      Here  was  the  first  great  error, 
of  which    the    alert   Schuyler,    to    whom  every  inch  of  the 
ground  was  familiar,  was  quick  to  take  advantage.      Imme- 
diately upon  the  arrival  of  Nixon's  Brigade  at  Fort  Edward 
it  was  advanced  to  Fort  Ann  to  fell  trees  into  Wrod   Creek, 
and  upon  the  road  from  Fort  Ann  south.     So  thoroughly 
was  this   effected  that  the  invading  army  was  compelled  to 
remove  at  every  ten   or  twelve  yards  great  trees  which  lay 
across  the  road,  and  exclusive  of  the  natural  difficulties  of  the 
country,  the  watery  ground  and  marshes  were  so  numerous 
that  they  were   compelled   to    construe*-  no   less  than   forty 
bridges  (one  of  which  was  nearly  two  miles  in  length)  on  the 
march  from  Skenesborough  to  Fort  Ed'.vard.     Lake  George 
was  partially  used  for  the  transport  of  stores,  Fort  George,  at 
the  head  of  the  lake,  having  been  abandoned  by  the  Ameri- 
cans, who,  after  saving  forty  pieces  of  cannon  and  fifteen  tons 
of  gunpowder,  barely  escaped  being  cut  off  by  the  movement 
of  the  enemy  to  Fort  Edward.     Such  were  the  obstructions 
thrown  in  his  way  that  Burgoyne  only  made  his  headquarters 
at  Fort  Edward  on  the  30th  of  July,  having  consumed  twenty- 
four  days  after  his  arrival  at  Skenesborough  in  a  movement 
of  twenty-six  miles.     Here  his  eyes  were  cheered  with  a  first 
view  of  the  Hudson,  a  vision  delusive  as  a  mirage. 

Schuyler,  having  secured  his  artillery,  began  to  fall  back 
and,  on  the  27th,  abandoned  Fort  Edward  to  the  British, 
taking  post  at  Moses'  Creek,  four  miles  below,  which  Kosci- 
usko had  settled  upon  as  a  more  defensible  place  than  Fort 


WASHINGTON   AND   SCHUYLER   HOPEFUL. 


21 


Edward,  which  was  almost  in  ruins.  So  elated  was  Schuyler 
by  the  bringing  off  of  the  artillery,  that  he  wrote  that  "  he 
believed  the  enemy  would  not  see  Albany  this  campaign." 
A  week  later,  by  advice  of  all  the  general  officers,  he  moved 
his  army,  first  to  Fort  Miller,  six  milci:  below,  then  to  Sara- 
toga, and  finally  to  Stillwater,  about  thirty  miles  north  of 
Albany,  where  he  proposed  to  await  reinforcements  and 
fortify  a  camp.  Stillwater  was  reached  on  the  3d  of  August, 
and  an  intrenchment  was  begun  the  next  day. 

The  fall  of  Ticonderoga  had  excited  intense  alarm  through- 
out the  country  ;  the  popular  imagination  had  invested  it  with 
the  impregnabilit)  of  an  enchanted  castle.     Its  capture  had 
been  the  first  conquest  of  the  patriots,  and  it  was  supposed  to 
be  the  natural  key  to  the  Northern  region.     Yet  in  spite  of  the 
popular  discouragement,  the  leaders  were  still  hopeful  of  a 
happy  result  of  the  campaign.     So  confident  was  Schuyler  in 
ultimate  success  that  he  expressed  the  presentiment  on  the  14th 
of  July  that  "  we  shall  still  have  a  Merry  Christmas,"  and  on 
the  25th  he  wrote  to  the  Committee  of  Albany  that  the  pro- 
gress of  Burgoync  need  give  no  alarm — to  use  his  own  words, 
that  should  he  ever  get  as  far  down  as  Half  Moon  he  would 
run  himself  into  the  greatest  danger,  and  that  in  all  proba- 
bility his  whole  army  would  be  destroved.     This  hopefulness 
was  not  confined  to  Schuyler.     Washington  himself  at  this 
period  expressed  his  opinion  that  the  success   Burgoyne  had 
met  with  "would  precipitate  his  ruin,"  anJ  that  his  "  acting 
in  detachments  was  the  course  of  all  others  most  favorable  to 
the  American  cause."     He  adds:   "Could  wc  be  so  happy 
as  to  cut  one  of  them  off,  supposing  it  should  not  exceed 
four,  five  or  six  hundred  men,  it  would  inspirit  the  people  and 
do  away  with  much  of  their  present  anxiety.     In  such   an 
event  they  would  lose  sight  of  past  misfortune,  and,  urged  at 
the  same  time  by  a  regard  for  their  own  security,  they  would 
fly  to  arms  and  afford  every  aid  in  their  power."     In  view  of 
the  events  about  to  transpire,  the  words  of  the  great  chief 
seem  almost  prophetic. 

To  us  in  these  days,  looking  over  the  field  without  passion, 


-  'if 

i'y'' 

i  <1 


22 


FAILURE   OF  ST.    LE(]ER. 


prejudice  or  fear,  it  seems  that  even  a  junction  between  Bur- 
goyne  and  Howe  would  not  have  been  by  any  means  fatal  to 
the  patriot  cause.  The  British  had  not  the  force  adequate  to 
maintain  the  hne  of  tlic  Hudson.  At  no  time  did  their  army 
at  the  north  hold  more  than  the  ground  on  wliich  they  stood, 
Howe,  like  liurgoync,  derived  his  provisions  and  supplies 
from  ICngland. 

While  l^urgoyne  was  slowly  plodding  his  way  against  al- 
most insuperable  difficulties  in  the  path  he  had  chosen,  check- 
ing desertion  only  by  constant  executions,  and  even  by  au- 
thority to  the  savages  to  scalp  every  soldier  found  outside 
the  lines,  St.  Leger,  with  his  command  reinfc^rccd  by  Sir 
John  Johnson  and  the  lo}'alists  of  Tryon  county,  appeared 
before  Fort  Stanwix  on  the  2d  of  August.  The  story  of  the 
siege  and  the  bloody  struggle  on  the  field  of  Oriskany  need 
not  be  recited  here.  The  brave  resistance  of  the  garrison 
under  Gansevoort  and  Willett,  and  the  heroic  behavior  of 
Herkimer  and  the  yeomanry  of  Tryon  against  desperate 
odds,  have  lately  been  occasion  of  centennial  celebration. 
This  expedition  was  a  principal  feature  of  the  original  plan  of 
the  campaign,  and,  although  St.  Leger  held  an  independent 
command,  his  failure  was  a  complete  paralysis  of  the  right 
wing  of  the  army  of  invasion.  Stunned  by  the  resistance  he 
encountered,  and  learning  of  the  reinforcement  of  the  Ameri- 
cans by  troops  from  Schuyler's  command,  he  retraced  his 
steps  to  Oswego,  and  thence  with  the  remnant  of  his  force  to 
Montreal,  where  he  arrived  too  late  to  take  any  further  part 
in  the  campaign. 

From  the  30th  of  July  to  the  15th  of  August,  Burgoyne 
was  busy  at  Fort  Edward,  getting  down  batteaux,  provisions, 
and  ammunition  from  Fort  George  to  the  Hudson,  a  distance 
of  about  sixteen  miles,  '"he  roads  were  out  of  repair  in  some 
parts,  steep  and  much  jroken  by  exceeding  heavy  rains  ; 
with  all  his  exertions  he  was  not  able  in  fifteen  days  to  ac- 
cumulate more  than  four  days'  provisions  for  a  forward  move- 
ment. This  delay,  however,  enabled  him  to  carry  out  an- 
ther cherished  plan,  that  of  detaching  a  corps  from  his  left, 


BURGOYNE   RESUMES   HIS   MARCH. 


n 


in  order,  to  iisa  his  own  words,  "  to  give  jealousy  "  to  Con- 
necticut, and  hold  in  check  the  country  known  as  the  M  irnp- 
shire  Grants.  To  this  he  had  been  further  incited  by  Major- 
General  Ricdesel,  who  had  commanded  the  Black  Hussars  in 
Germany,  and  was  now  anxious  to  mount  his  dragoons. 

Besides  this  inducement,  Butgoyne  had  learned  that  Ben- 
nington was  the  great  deposit  of  corn,  flour,  and  cattle,  that  it 
was  guarded  by  militia  only,  and  that  the  country  about  was 
much  disaffected  to  the  Americans.  Under  these  impres- 
sions, with  this  purpose,  and  being  now  ready  for  his  own 
advance,  he  despatched  an  expedition  imder  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Baum.  At  daybreak  on  the  14th,  liurgoyne  broke 
camp  at  Fort  Edward  and  began  his  advance.  His  objective 
point  was  Albany,  where  he  expected  to  be  joined  by  St. 
Leger  coming  down  ihe  Mohawk,  and  Baum  from  his  raid 
upon  Bennington. 

On  the  14th,  he  established  his  headquarters  at  Duer's 
house  (at  Fort  Miller),  about  six  miles  below.  A  bridge  of 
rafts  was  constructed,  over  which  the  advance  corps  passed 
the  Hudson  and  encamped  on  the  heights  of  Saratoga.  On 
the  17th,  before  the  main  body  could  be  gotten  over,  the 
river  being  swollen  by  heavy  rains,  and  the  current  running 
rapidly,  the  bridge  was  carried  away.  The  advance  being 
thus  isolated,  was  recalled,  and  recrossed  the  river  in  scows 
and  took  up  their  old  encampment  on  the  Batten  Kill. 
Here,  at  a  shoal  part  of  the  river,  a  pontoon  was  constructed 
across  the  Hudson,  directly  opposite  Saratoga,  which  was 
completed  about  the  20th.  But  obstacles  of  another  nature 
presented  themselves.  On  the  17th,  B-irgoyne  receiving  in- 
formation of  disaster  to  Baum,  and  suddenly  convinced  of 
the  impossibility  of  obtaining  provisions  and  supplies  from 
the  country,  in  his  general  orders  informed  the  troops  of 
the  necessity  of  a  halt.  For  the  first  time  his  eyes  were 
opened  to  the  difficulties  of  his  situation.  He  found  himself 
with  an  extended  line  of  communication,  no  hope  of  obtain- 
ing provisions  in  the  neighborhood,  deceived  as  to  the  senti- 
ment of  tiie  country  and  in  the  midst  of  a  hardy  population 


24 


FAILURE  OF  BAUM. 


exulting  in  success.  The  surprise  and  defeat  of  Baum  by- 
Stark  and  Warner  with  the  New  England  militia  on  the  15th 
of  August  was  not  to  him  the  most  discouraging  feature  of 
the  battle  of  Bennington.  It  was  the  rally  of  the  farmers 
from  every  quarter,  all  accustomed  to  the  use  of  hrearms 
from  childhood  in  a  section  of  country  abotmding  in  game. 
Not  Braddock  himself  in  the  toils  of  Indian  stratagem  was 
more  helpless  than  the  Hessians  of  Baum  and  Breyman,  with 
clumsy  accoutrements,  their  heavy  boots  sinking  at  every 
step  deep  in  the  wet  soil,  and  moving  with  military  disci- 
pline, exposed  to  the  fire  of  a  thousand  marksmen  concealed 
by  bushes  and  trees. 

To  relate  the  incidents  of  the  glorious  victory  at  this  time 
and  before  this  audience  would  be  to  tell  a  "  twice-told  tale." 
But  it  is  not  to  be  forgotten  that  this  battle  also  was  fought 
on  th<?  soil  of  the  Empire  State.  Its  result  justified  Washing- 
ton's military  judgment  in  his  opinion  of  the  danger  to  Bur- 
goync  of  detached  operations,  and  the  enthusiasm  it  aroused 
realized  h..6  prediction  and  showed  his  thorough  knowledge 
of  the  temper  of  the  people.  To  the  army  of  Burgoyne  the 
consequences  were  serious.  The  return  of  the  scattered  rem- 
nant of  tiie  force,  which  went  out  from  camp  in  such  high 
hopes  and  spirits,  damped  the  ardor  of  both  officers  and  men. 
A  few  days  later  a  courier  from  St.  Leger,  guided  by  a 
friendly  Indian  by  Saratoga  Lake  and  Glens  Falls,  brought 
intelligence  of  failui'e  in  that  quarter.  The  shadow  which 
had  fallen  on  the  army  now  deepened  into  gloom.  In  spite 
of  all  these  discouragements  the  proud  spirit  of  Burgoyne 
could  not  brook  the  thought  of  abandoning  the  expedition. 
Choosing  to  adopt  a  strict  construction  of  the  King's  orders 
"to  go  to  Albany,"  he  assumed  the  entire  responsibility  of 
further  advance  without  consultation  of  his  officers. 

It  Was  not  until  the  12th  Seotember  that  Burgoyne,  com- 
pelled to  depend  wholly  upon  Canada  for  supplies,  had 
accumulated  the  thirty  days'  provisions  'vhich  he  thought 
necessary  to  his  further  advance.  On  that  day  he  issued  his 
orders  to  move. 


BURGOYNE   CROSSES  THE   HUDSON.  2  5 

His  army  crossed  the  Hudson  on  the  13th,  ond  on  the  14th 
encamped  on  the  heights  and  plains  of  Saratoga.  Here  was 
the  country  seat  of  General  Schuyler,  with  his  commodious 
dwelling,  his  mill,  a  church  and  several  houses.  Not  a  living 
creature  was  to  be  seen,  but  broad  fields,  rich  with  waving 
grain  'eady  for  the  reaper.  Before  night  the  wheat  was  cut 
and  threshed  and  in  Jie  mill  for  grinding.  The  Indian  corn 
was  apportioned  as  forage  for  the  horses,  and  the  beautiful 
plantation,  which  in  the  morning  was  a  scene  of  peace  and 
plenty,  stripped  to  the  last  blade.  The  passage  of  the  river 
was  the  close  of  what  Burgoyne  terms  the  second  period  of 
his  campaign. 

Before  entering  on  the  third  period,  which  may  be  termed 
the  battle  period,  we  must  return  to  the  American  army, 
which  we  left  under  Schuyler  at  Stillwater,  intrenching  their 
camp  on  the  4th  August.  On  the  same  day  he  received  ad- 
vice of  the  investment  of  Fort  Stanwix  ;  on  the  7th  reports  of 
the  battle  of  Oriskany,  with  exaggerated  account  of  the 
American  loss.  On  the  i  rth  he  detached  General  Learned 
to  the  assistance  of  the  garrison,  £.nd  on  the  15th  Arnold, 
whom  Washington  had  ordered  to  the  Northern  Department, 
because  of  his  encouraging  presence  to  the  dispirited  militia, 
was  sent  up  with  full  powers  to  cover  the  Mohawk  settle- 
ments. Alarmed  by  the  prospect  of  St.  Leger's  descent  by 
the  Mohawk  River,  Schuyler,  who  on  every  occasion  dis- 
played strategic  skill  of  the  first  order,  fell  back  from  Still- 
water to  the  confluence  of  the  Hudson  and  the  Mohawk, 
where,  on  the  :4th,  he  took  post  on  Van  Schaick's  Island,  nine 
miles  from  Albany.  This  had  been  selected  as  a  secure  posi- 
tion for  the  main  body,  which  had  been  greatly  weakened  by 
the  detachments  sent  up  the  valley  of  the  Mohawk  and  to  the 
Hampshire  Grants,  where  General  Lincoln  had  gone,  by 
order  of  Washington,  to  organize  a  movement  to  cut  off  Bur- 
goyne's  communication  with  Canada. 

Correct  as  all  these  movements  of  General  Schuyler  appeal 
to  us  now,  as  seen  in  the  light  of  history,  they  were  the  cause 
of  intense  dissatisfaction  to  the  people,  whom  each  successive 


26 


POPULAR  DISTRUST  OF   SCHUYLER, 


t 
I 


if 

r 


movement  of  Burgcyne  had  filled  with  alarm.  Rumors  derog- 
atory to  the  personal  courage  and  integrity,  as  well  as  the 
patriotism,  of  Schuyler  were  rife  in  all  sections,  particularly 
in  New  England,  where  the  old  prejudice  against  their  Dutch 
neighbors  still  prevailed.  In  all  the  difficulties  with  regard  to 
boundary  Schuyler  had  been  prominent  in  defence  of  the 
rights  of  the  New  York  colony,  and  the  antagonism  between 
the  two  sides  of  the  river  was  now  intensified  by  the  revolt  of 
the  Hampshire  Grants  against  the  authority  of  New  York, 
and  their  declared  purpose  to  set  up  a  i^Late  for  themselves. 
Schuyler,  whose  spirit  was  high  and  whose  nature  was  sensi- 
tive to  excess,  chafed  sorely  unler  the  accusations  against 
him,  but,  sustained  by  his  own  sense  of  the  value  of  his  ser- 
vices, the  sympathy  of  the  New  York  Government  and  the 
confidence  of  Washington,  he  had  maintained  his  command. 
The  year  before  he  had  demanded  an  investigation  ''nto  his 
conduct  in  evacuating  Crown  Point,  which  was  looked  upon 
as  the  beginning  of  disaster,  and  had  tendered  his  resignation 
to  Congress,  who,  however,  refused  to  accept  of  it,  and  prom- 
ised an  investigation  of  his  conduct.  In  November  he  had 
applied  again  to  Congress  for  permission  to  repair  to  Phila- 
delphia on  that  business,  to  which  Congress  consented.  Ap- 
pointed delegate  to  Congress  by  the  New  York  Convention, 
he  had  taken  his  seat  in  April,  and  secured  the  passage  of  a 
resolution  of  inquiry.  The  committee  made  a  report  in  May, 
which  thoroughly  vindicated  him  and  placed  him  in  full  com- 
mand of  the  Northern  Department. 

The  advance  of  Burgoyne,  penetrating  into  the  heart  of  the 
country,  and  the  fact  that  Schuyler  himself  had  personally 
participated  in  no  engagement,  revived  the  distrust  with 
which  he  was  viewed  by  the  Eastern  troops  ;  a  distrust  which 
paralyzed  his  influence  and  made  a  change  in  the  command 
of  the.  Northern  Department  an  absolute  necessity.  No 
stronger  proof  of  the  existence  and  strength  of  this  feeling 
is  needed  than  his  own  words.  Writing  to  Washington  from 
Saratoga,  on  the  28th  July,  he  said  :  "  So  far  from  the 
militia  that  are  with  me  increasing,  they  are  daily  dimin- 


GATES   RELIEVES   SCHUYLER. 


2^ 


ishing,  and  I  am  very  confident  that  in  ten  days,  if  the 
enemy  should  not  disturb  us,  wc  shall  not  have  five  hundred 
left ;  and  although  I  have  entreated  tins  and  the  Eastern 
States  to  send  up  arc-enforcement  of  them,  yet  I  doubt  much 
if  any  will  come  up  when  the  spirit  of  malevolence  knows  no 
bounds,  and  I  am  considered  as  a  traitor." 

On  the  1st  of  August  Congress  passed  resolutions  ordering 
General  Schuyler  to  repair  to  headquarters,  and  directed 
Washington  to  order  such  general  ofiicer  as  he  deemed  proper 
to  relieve  him  in  his  command.  On  the  4th  a  letter  from 
Washington  was  laid  before  Congress,  asking  to  be  excused 
from  making  an  appointment  of  an  officer  to  command  the 
Northern  army.  An  election  was  then  held  by  Congress,  and 
Major-General  Gates  was  chosen  by  the  vote  of  eleven  States. 
Washington  was  informed  of  the  result,  and  was  directed  to 
order  General  Gates  at  once  to  his  post.  Washington  was 
then  at  Philadelphia,  and  the  same  day  informed  Gates  of  his 
appointment.  Schuyler  was  at  Albany  when  the  resolution 
reached  him  on  the  loth.  His  magnanimity  on  this  occasio  - 
is  matter  of  record.  Solomon  tells  us  that,  "  Better  is  he 
that  ruleth  his  spirit  than  he  that  taketh  a  city."  To  no  man 
of  whom  history,  ancient  or  modern,  makes  mention  can  this 
phrase  be  more  justly  applied  than  to  Schuyler.  The  judg- 
ment of  Congress  as  to  the  propriety  of  a  change  is  sufficiently 
shown  by  Schuyler's  own  letters  to  that  body  on  the  15th 
August,  in  which  he  said  that  he  had  not  been  joined  by  any 
of  the  New  England  militia,  and  that  there  were  only  sixty  or 
seventy  on  the  ground  from  the  State  of  New  York.  Whether 
Schuyler  had  great  military  capacity  or  not  is  a  question 
which  cannot  be  answered.  That  he  had  no  opportunity  of 
displaying  it  on  the  field  is  certain  ;  that  he  was  possessed  of 
the  strongest  common  sense  and  of  that  rarest  quality  in  the 
human  mind,  the  organizing  faculty,  is  beyond  doubt.  No 
other  man  in  America  could  have  performed  the  services 
which  he  rendered,  and  it  may  certainly  be  said  that  they 
were  second  only  to  those  of  Washington  in  importance  and 
extent.     He  continued  in  command  of  the  troops  until  the 


28 


GATES  ADVANCES   TO   BEMIS   HEIGHTS. 


II 


arrival  of  Gates   on  the   19th  August,  to  whom  he  2;ave  the 
cordial  reception  of  a  soldier  and  a  gentleman. 

Gates  was  by  no  means  overjoyed  at  th.'  responsibility  with 
which  he  was  entrusted.  He  found  the  army  dejected,  although 
somewhat  encouraged  by  the  victory  at  Bennington.  His 
arrival  revived  the  spirits  of  the  troops,  and  the  precision  which 
he  at  once  introduced  into  the  camp  increased  their  resolution. 
Words  of  congratulation  and  encouragement  pressed  in  upon 
him  from  the  eastward,  and  the  announcement  of  the  approach 
of  militia  from  all  sections  added  to  the  courage  of  the  men. 

During  the  retreat  the  army  had  been  greatly  distressed  by 
the  savages  in  Burgoyne's  command,  who  hung  upon  the 
flanks  and  outposts,  and  by  their  merciless  cruelty  excited  an 
alarm  which  their  real  importance  by  no  means  justified. 
Washington,  aware  of  the  disadvantage  under  which  the  militia 
lay  in  their  apprehension  from  this  cause,  on  the  20th  dis- 
patched Colonel  Morgan  to  his  assistance  \vith  his  corps  of  rifle- 
men. This  corps  of  five  hundred  men  was  a  cor/>s  d' elite ^  which 
had  been  selected  from  the  entire  army  for  their  proficiency 
in  the  use  of  the  rifle  and  the  Indian  mode  of  warfare.  Gates 
thanked  Washington  warmly  for  this  valuable  assistance  and 
for  his  advice  concerning  the  use  to  be  made  of  them.  They 
arrived  on  the  23d.  To  them  Gates  added  two  hundred  and 
fifty  bayonets,  also  carefully  picked  from  the  line,  whom  he 
placed  under  the  command  of  Major  Dearborn,  a  determined 
officer. 

On  the  8th  September,  the  army  having  been  recruited  to 
about  6,000  men.  Gates  felt  strong  enough  to  make  a  forward 
movement,  and  marched  to  Stillwater,  where  aline  of  intrench- 
ments  was  begun  the  next  day.  It  was  soon  found,  however, 
that  the  extent  of  low  ground  was  too  great  to  admit  of  proper 
defence  of  the  centre  and  left.  A  more  favorable  point  was 
selected,  two  miles  and  a  half  to  the  northward,  where  a  range 
of  hills,  covered  by  a  narrow  defile  in  front  and  jutting  close 
upon  the  river,  offered  an  admirable  defensive  position.  The 
fortification  was  at  once  begun,  under  the  direction  of  Kos- 
ciusko, the  Engineer-in-Chief,  and  the  army  took  possession  on 


burgoyne's  communications  cut. 


29 


the  I2th.  The  ground  is  that  which  was  then  and  is  now 
known  as  Bcmis'  Heights,  and  upon  it  were  contested  the 
hard-fought  actions  which  determined  the  campaign.  Here 
Gates  resolved  to  await  the  attack  of  Burgoyne,  without  pre- 
cipitating movements  with  his  mostly  raw  troops  until  they  had 
acquired  some  discipline  ;  certainly  not  until  he  should  hear  of 
the  success  of  the  attempt  making  to  reach  Burgoyne's  rear 
and  distress  his  army. 

General  Lincoln,  who  was  charged  with  this  expedition, 
moved  from  Manchester  to  Pawlet  with  his  militia  force,  con- 
sisting of  about  two  thousand  men.  On  his  advance,  the 
British  guard  at  Skenesborough  fell  back,  destroyir-^  a  num- 
ber of  boats.  On  the  13th  he  despatched  Colonel  Brown  with 
five  hundred  men  to  the  landing  at  Lake  George,  to  releas:^ 
the  American  prisoners  and  destroy  the  British  stores,  and  the 
same  number  of  men  under  Colonel  Johnson  to  Mount  Lide- 
pendence,  to  create  a  diversion  in  favor  of  the  operations  of 
Colonel  Brown,  who  was  directed  to  push  to  Ticonderoga,  if 
opportunity  offered.  A  like  number  of  men  was  also  sent, 
under  Colonel  Woodbridge,  to  Skenesborough,  thence  to 
Fort  Ann,  and  on  to  Fort  Edward.  Lincoln  at  once  advised 
Gates  of  this  movement.  Colonel  Brown  managed  uls  op- 
erations with  great  skill  and  secrecy.  After  a  night  march  he 
reached  the  north  end  of  Lake  George  ul  daybreak  on  the 
morning  of  the  17th,  surprising  in  detail  all  the  outposts  be- 
tween the  landing  and  the  fortress  of  Ticonderoga  ;  Mount 
Defiance,  Mount  Hope,  the  French  lines,  a  block-house,  two 
hundred  batteaux  and  several  gunboats,  taking  prisoners  two 
hundred  and  ninety-three  British  and  Canadians,  and  releas- 
ing one  hundred  Americans.  Among  his  trophies  was  the 
Continental  standard  left  at  Ty  when  the  Fort  was  evacuated. 
The  guns  at  Fort  Defiance  were  turned  upon  the  fortress  of 
Ticonderoga,  but  no  impression  could  be  made  on  its  walls. 
Taking  the  gunboats.  Brown  sailed  up  the  lake,  and  on  the 
24th  made  an  attack  on  Diamond  Island,  about  four  miles 
north  of  Fort  George,  but  was  warmly  received  and  repulsed. 
Making  for  the  eastern  shore,  he  reached  the  camp  of  General 


'^    )^V 


30 


BURGOYNE  MOVES  TO  ATTACK. 


;* 


11 


Warner  at  Skcnesborough  on  the  26th,  by  way  of  Fort  Ann. 
A  curious  testimony  to  the  effect  of  these  raids  on  the  rear  of 
the  British  army  exists  in  the  Gates  papers,  in  an  intercepted 
letter  from  St.  Lcger,  written  at  Ticonderoga  the  29th  Septem- 
ber, informing  Burgoyne  of  his  arrival  there,  and  asking  for 
guides  to  lead  him  down. 

To  return  to  Burgoyne,  whom  we  left  encamped  at  Sara- 
toga on  the  14th.  The  next  day  he  moved  forward  at  noon, 
forming  his  troops  into  three  columns,  after  passing  Schuyler's 
house,  and  encamped  at  Dovogat  (the  present  Coeville), 
where  they  lay  accoutred  that  night.  On  the  i6th  there  was 
a  fog  so  heavy  that  even  foragers  were  forbidden  to  leave 
camp.  Later  in  the  day  detached  parties  were  employed  in 
repairing  the  bridges  and  reconnoitering  the  country. 

On  the  17th  the  army  resumed  their  march,  repaired 
bridges  and  encamped  at  Sword's  Farm,  four  miles  from 
Gates'  position.  The  general  orders  directed  the  army  to  be 
under  arms  at  an  hour  before  daybreak.  His  approach  was 
known  to  Gates  by  report  of  his  adjutant,  Wilkinson,  who 
led  a  scouting  party  and  sa\/  the  passage  of  the  river.  On 
the  1 8th  preparations  were  made  to  harass  him,  and  General 
Arnold  was  sent  out  with  fifteen  hundred  men  to  endeavor 
to  stop  the  repair  of  the  bridges.  After  some  light  skir- 
mishing Arnold  fell  back,  and  Burgoyne  moved  forward  as  far 
as  Wilbur's  Basin,  about  two  miles  from  the  American  posi- 
tion. He  there  established  his  camp,  which  he  I'ortifiod  with 
intrenchments  and  redoubts,  his  left  on  the  river,  his  right 
extending  at  right  angles  to  it  across  the  low  ground  about 
six  hundred  yards,  to  a  range  of  steep  and  lofty  heights  ;  a 
creek  or  gully  in  his  front,  made  by  a  rivulet  which  issued 
from  a  great  ravine  formed  by  the  hills,  known  as  the  North 
Ravine. 

On  the  morning  of  the  19th,  Burgoyne,  after  a  careful  recon- 
noitering of  the  passages  of  the  great  ravine  and  the  road 
around  its  head,  leading  to  the  extreme  left  of  the  American 
camp,  advanced  to  the  attack  in  three  divisions.  Fraser  on 
the  right,  with  the  light  infantry,  sustained  by  Breyman's  Ger- 


THE  AMERICAN  POSITION. 


31 


man  riflemen,  and  covered  on  the  flanks  by  Canadians,  Pro- 
vincials, and  Indians,  made  a  wide  circuit  to  the  west  in  order 
to  pass  the  ravine  without  quitting  the  heights,  and  afterwards 
to  cover  the  march  of  the  hne  to  the  right.  The  centre,  com- 
manded by  Burgoyne  in  person,  passed  the  ravine  in  a  direct 
line  south,  and  formed  in  order  of  battle  as  fast  as  they  gained 
the  summit,  where  they  waited  to  give  time  for  Fraser  to 
make  the  circuit.  The  left  wing,  led  by  Riedesel  and  Phillips, 
and  composed  of  the  Hessian  troops  and  the  artillery,  moved 
along  the  river  road  and  meadows  in  two  columns.  Their 
advance  was  delayed  by  the  repair  of  the  bridges.  The 
Forty-seventh  Regiment  were  charged  with  the  guard  of  the 
batteaux  containing  the  stores  of  the  army.  Burgoyne's  pur- 
pose was  hi-iself  to  attack  the  left  of  the  American  lines  in 
front  and  engage  their  attention  until  Fraser,  moving  over  the 
table  land,  should  turn  the  extreme  left  of  the  American  posi- 
tion and  reach  their  rear.  Riedesel  and  Phillips  were  to 
change  direction  at  the  southern  end  of  the  ravine  and  march 
west  to  connect  with  the  British  centre.  When,  between  one 
and  two  o'clock,  the  columns  had  reached  their  positions  they 
moved  at  signal  guns.  From  the  conformation  of  the  ground 
this  was  the  only  practicable  manner  by  which  Burgoyne 
could  possibly  advance,  the  river  road  being  covered  by  the 
American  artillery. 

Beyond  the  great  North  Ravine  in  front  of  the  British  posi- 
tion, and  half  way  between  it  and  the  ground  fortified  by  the 
Americans,  there  was  another  deep  ravine  called  the  Middle 
Ravine,  through  which  Mill  Creek  still  runs,  and  directly  in 
front  of  the  American  camp  and  covered  by  its  guns  was 
another  ravine  of  lesser  extent,  but  still  a  formidable  obstruc- 
tion to  the  advance  of  an  enemy.  The  whole  country,  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  cleared  patches,  was  heavily  wooded, 
the  ravines  as  well  as  the  upper  table  lands.  On  the  high 
ground  (Bemis'  Heights)  south  was  the  American  entrenched 
line,  extending  eastwardly  to  the  river  bank  and  westwardly 
to  the  extremity  of  the  hill  where  a  redoubt  was  begun. 
Beyond  it  felled  trees  obstructed  the  passage  of  the  gullies 


32 


GATES  ATTACKS  THE  ENEMY. 


between  the  flank  defences  on  the  left  and  the  neighboring 
hills.  The  lines,  which  were  about  a  mile  in  extent,  en- 
closed what  is  still  known  as  Neilson's  Farm.  The  hills  on 
the  east  of  the  Hudson  commanded  a  general  view  of  Bur- 
goyne's  camp. 

On  the  morning  of  the  19th,  Gates  was  informed  by  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Colburn,  of  the  New  Hampshire  line,  who 
had  been  sent  out  the  day  before  to  observe  the  movements 
of  the  enemy,  that  the  British  had  struck  their  tents  and 
crossed  the  gully  at  the  gorge  of  the  great  ravine,  and  were 
ascending  the  heights  toward  the  American  left.  Arnold, 
who  commanded  the  left  wing,  and  was  at  this  time  at  head- 
quarters, suggested  a  movement  to  attack.  Colonel  Morgan, 
with  his  rifle  corps,  supported  by  Major  Dearborn's  light 
infantry,  was  immediately  ordered  out  to  observe  their  direc- 
tion and  harass  their  advance.  About  half-past  twelve  a  re- 
port of  small  arms  announced  that  Morgan's  men  had  struck 
the  enemy.  They  had  fallen  in  with  Burgoyne's  pickets,  who 
made  the  advance  guard  of  the  British  line,  and  had  posted 
themselves  in  a  cabin  on  Freeman's  farm,  which  was  one  of 
the  few  cleared  spots  in  that  thickly  wooded  country.  They 
were  quickly  dislodged  by  Morgan,  who,  pursuing  hotly,  fell 
on  the  main  body,  which  Burgoyne  had  formed  into  line  in 
the  first  opening  in  the  woods,  by  whom  they  were  instantly 
routed,  with  loss  of  several  officers  and  men.  Wilkinson,  who 
witnessed  the  rally  of  the  riflemen,  hurried  to  Gates,  who  at 
once  gave  directions  for  thoir  support.  Cilley's  and  Scam- 
mel's  regiments  of  New  Hampshire  (part  of  General  Poor's 
brigade  of  Continental  regulars)  were  ordered  to  advance 
through  the  woods  and  take  ground  on  the  left  of  Morgan, 
and  the  action  was  renewed  about  one  o'clock. 

This  movement  would  have  turned  the  British  right  but  for 
the  disposition  of  General  Fraser,  who  had  promptly  arrived 
at  his  appointed  post  and  taken  an  advantageous  position  on 
a  height,  which  covered  the  British  right.  Meeting  this  ob- 
stacle the  Americans  counter-marched,  and  pushed  through 
the  woods  toward  the  left  of  Burgoyne's  column.     To  their 


THE  BATTLE  OF  FREEMAN'S  FARM. 


33 


support  the  five  remaining  regiments  of  Poor's  brigade,  con- 
sisting of  Hale's,  of  New  Hampshire  ;  Van  Cortlandt's  and 
Henry  Livingston's,  of  New  York,  and  Cook's  and  Latimer's, 
of  the  Connecticut  Militia,  were  successively  led  to  the  field 
at  the  points  of  the  action  where  greatest  pressure  was  per- 
ceived. About  three  o'clock  the  action  became  general.  Bur- 
goyne's  division  was  vigorously  attacked  and  suffered  severely. 
One  regiment  of  grenadiers  and  part  of  the  light  infantry  under 
Lord  Balcarras  from  Eraser's  division  participated  at  times  in 
the  action,  but  it  was  not  thought  advisable  to  weaken  Era- 
ser's force  on  the  heights,  except  partially  and  occasionally. 
Major-General  Phillips,  hearing  the  firing,  made  his  way  at 
once  through  the  woods  to  Burgoyne's  support,  bringing  with 
him  four  pieces  of  artillery,  a  difficult  task,  considering  the 
nature  of  the  ground,  and  entered  the  action  at  a  critical  time. 
Riedesel  also  got  up  with  part  of  the  left  wing  before  the  close 
of  the  battle.  The  Americans,  feeling  the  pressure  of  this 
reinforcement.  Gates  ordered  out  the  whole  of  Learned's 
brigade,  consisting  of  Bailey's,  Wesson's,  and  Jackson's  regi- 
ments, of  the  Massachusetts  line,  and  James  Livingston's,  of 
New  York,  and  also  Marshall's  regiment,  of  the  Massachusetts 
line.  They  were  but  slightly  engaged.  Darkness  ended  the 
contest,  the  Americans  only  withdrawing  when  objects  became 
undistinguishable.  The  number  engaged  on  each  side  was 
not  far  from  equal.  The  American  force  was  about  3,000, 
and  Burgoyne  stated  his  to  be  about  3,500.  The  mode  of 
fighting  of  the  Americans  more  than  equalled  this  discrep- 
ancy. The  field  of  action  was  such  that,  although  the  com- 
batants changed  ground  a  dozen  times  in  the  course  of  the 
day,  the  contest  terminated  with  each  body  in  its  original  po- 
sition. The  British  were  formed  on  an  eminence  in  a  thin 
pine  wood,  having  before  it  Freeman's  farm,  an  oblor>g  field, 
stretching  from  its  centre  toward  its  right,  the  ground  in 
front  sloping  gently  down  to  the  verge  of  the  field,  which  was 
bordered  on  the  opposite  side  by  a  close  wood,  held  by  the 
Americans.  The  sanguinary  scene  lay  in  the  cleared  ground 
between  the  eminence  occupied  by  the  enemy  and  the  wood 
3 


T* 


34 


URAVERY   OF  THE  AMHRICAN  TROOPS. 


'i 


just  mentioned.  The  fire  of  the  American  marksmen  from  the 
wood  was  too  deadly  to  be  withstood  by  the  British  in  Hne,  and 
when  they  gave  way  and  broke,  the  Americans,  making 
for  their  centre,  pursued  them  to  the  eminence,  where, 
having  tlieir  flanks  protected,  they  rallied,  and  charging  in 
turn  drove  the  Americans  back  into  the  wood,  whence  a 
dreadful  fire  would  again  force  them  to  fall  back,  and  in  this 
manner  did  the  battle  fluctuate,  like  the  waves  of  a  stormy 
sea,  with  alternate  advantage,  for  four  hours  without  one  mo- 
ment's intermission  ;  the  British  artillery  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  Americans  at  every  charge,  but  they  could  neither 
turn  the  pieces  on  the  enemy  nor  bring  them  off;  the  wood 
prevented  the  last,  and  the  want  of  a  match  the  first,  as  the 
linstock  was  invariably  carried  off,  and  the  rapidity  of  the 
transitions  would  not  allow  time  to  provide  one.  The  slaugh- 
ter of  the  artillery  was  remarkable,  the  captain  and  twenty- 
six  men  out  of  forty-eight  being  killed  or  wounded.  Such  is 
Wilkinson's  concise  and  j.  icturesque  account  of  this  action, 
which  he  considered  one  of  the  longest,  warmest,  and  most 
obstinate  battles  fought  in  America.  Here  was  seen  the  su- 
periority of  the  American  rifle  over  the  British  bayonet,  on 
which  Burgoyne  so  confidently  relied.  In  his  report  to  Con- 
gress, Gates  accorded  the  glory  of  the  action  entirely  to  the 
valor  of  the  rifle  regiment  and  corps  of  light  infiintry  under 
the  command  of  Colonel  Morgan.  The  British  were  sur- 
prised at  the  courage  and  obstinacy  with  which  the  Ameri- 
cans fought,  and,  as  one  who  was  present  has  recorded,  found 
to  their  dismay  that  they  were  not  that  contemptible  enemy 
they  had  been  hitherto  imagined,  incapable  of  standing  a  reg- 
ular engagement,  and  willing  only  to  fight  behind  strong  and 
powerful  works. 

The  battle  on  the  part  of  the  Americans  was  essentially  a 
soldiers'  battle.  While  Burgoyne  led  his  men  in  person,  ex- 
posing himself  with  great  bravery,  directing  the  movements 
of  the  British  line,  the  Americans  had  no  general  officer  in 
the  field  until  the  evening,  w^hen  General  Learned  was 
ordered  out.     The  battle  was  fought  by  the  general  concert 


i 


I1URG07NE   FORTIFIES   HIS   POSITION. 


35 


and  zealous  co-operation  of  the  corps  encjaged,  and  sustained 
more  by  individual  courage  than  military  discipline,  as  is 
shown  by  the  loss  of  the  militia  in  comparison  with  that  of 
the  regular  troops. 

During  the  action  Gates  and  Arnold  remained  in  front  of 
the  centre  of  the  camp.  This  is  no  matter  for  conmient  or 
surprise,  as  it  was  neither  the  policy  nor  the  purpose  of 
Gates  to  bring  on  a  general  engagement,  which  might  have 
involved  his  forces  to  such  an  extent  as  to  leave  his  right 
exposed  and  uncover  the  river  road.  The  intrenchmcnts 
were  not  half  completed,  those  on  the  left  hardly  begun. 
Moreover,  the  militia  were  every  day  arriving.  Each  dray's 
delay  increased  his  own  chances  of  success  while  diminishing 
those  of  the  enemy. 

The  loss  of  the  Americans,  killed,  wounded  and  missing, 
was   three   hundred    and   twenty-one;    that  of  the    Eritish[ 
six  hundred— a   disparity  more   remarkable,  as  the  ground 
did  not  admit   of  the    use   of  artillery  by   the  Americans. 
Both  sides  claimed    the  victory  ;    in  reality  it  was  a  drawn 
battle.     The   British    held    the   strong    position   Frascr   had 
occupied   in   the   morning,   which,    however.    Gates  had   no 
desire  of  disputing,  as  his  army  was  acting  on  the  defensive. 
The  Americans,  on  the  other  hand,  had  marched  out  from 
their  camp,  met  the  enemy  more  than  half  way,  and  after 
inflicting  upon  them  a  stunning  blow,  returned  to  their  in- 
trenchmcnts.    Far  more  important  than  an>  phj^sical  advan- 
tage was  the  effect  on  the  morale  of  the  two  armies.     The 
patriots  had  met  the  main  body  of  the  invading  army  on 
equal  terms,  while  the  invaders  had  learned  to  their  bitter 
cost  the  terrors  of  a  warfare  in  which  their  discipline  was  of 
little  avail. 

The  British  lay  on  their  arms  the  night  of  the  battle,  and  the 
next  day,  the  20th,  took  a  position  just  out  of  reach  of  the  can- 
non of  the  American  camp,  where  they  fortified,  and  at  the 
same  time  extended  their  left  to  the  brow  of  the  heights,  so 
as  to  cover  the  meadows  on  the  river.  A  bridge  of  boats 
was  thrown  over  the  Hudson,  and  a  work  erected  on  the  east 


•^ 


36 


GATES   REMAINS   ON   THE  DEFENSIVE. 


side  of  the  river.  The  Americans  on  their  side  worked  dili- 
gently in  completing  the  defences  of  their  extremely  strong 
position.  The  morning  was  foggy,  and  there  was  consider- 
(^ble  alarm  in  the  American  camp,  caused  by  the  story  of  a 
deserter,  that  an  attack  was  intended.  It  has  been  since 
stated  that  Burgoyne  really  directed  a  movement,  bat  was 
dissuaded  by  Genera!  I'>aser,  who,  because  of  the  fatigue  of 
his  men,  begged  for  a  day's  delay.  Meanwhile  a  spy  from 
Clinton  brought  a  letter  to  Burgoyne,  with  advice  of  his 
intended  expedition  against  the  Highlands,  which  determined 
him  to  postpone  the  attack  and  await  events.  If  such  were 
the  case,  this  was  another  and  fatal  error  of  Burgoyne.  His 
general  orders,  however,  of  the  20th,  ordering  the  advance 
of  the  army  at  3  o'clock,  seem  inconsistent  with  the  story, 
and  there  is  no  confirmation  of  it  in  his  own  narrative  ;  but, 
on  the  contrary,  he  admits  that  he  was  persuaded  that  the 
American  camp  was  strongly  fortified.  On  the  22cl,  Gates 
learned  from  General  Lincoln  of  Colonel  Brown's  success  at 
Ticondcroga.  His  reply  to  Lincoln  shows  that  at  this  time 
he  did  not  feel  himself  strong  enough  to  prevent  Burgoync's 
retreat.  He  therefore  urged  the  destruction  of  all  buildings, 
batteaux,  etc.,  on  the  line  which  should  afford  him  shelter, 
that,  to  use  his  own  words,  "  he  may  have  no  resting-place 
until  he  reaches  Canada."  The  next  morning  he  adds  a 
postscript,  to  the  effect  that,  by  his  scouts,  it  was  "  past  a 
doubt  that  the  enemy's  army  remain  in  their  camp,  that  their 
advance  was  within  one  mile  of  his  own,  and  urged  the 
immediate  forwarding  of  the  militia."  He  is  satisfied,  he  adds, 
"  that  New  York,  and  not  Ticondcroga,  is  General  Burgoyne's 
object." 

On  the  23d,  in  consequence  of  a  direction  in  general  orders 
that  Morgan's  independent  corps  was  responsible  to  head- 
quarters only,  a  difference  which  had  been  long  brewing 
between  Gates  and  Arnold  ended  in  a  public  dispute.  High 
words  passed  between  them.  Arnold  was  excluded  from 
headquarters,  and  demanded  permission  to  go  to  Philadelphia 
to  report  to  Congress,  a  request  of  which  Gates  took  in.stant 


BURGOYNE  HOLDS  A  COUNCIL  OF  WAR. 


37 


advantap^e.  Suspended  from  command  at  his  own  desire, 
Arnold  found  too  late  the  unfortunate  position  in  which  he 
would  place  his  reputation  by  leaving  the  army  at  this  critical 
juncture.  He  changed  his  mind  and  remained  in  camp,  mur- 
muring discontent  and  spreading  sedition  by  the  intemper- 
ance of  his  conduct  and  language.  Gates  took  Arnold's 
division  under  his  own  command  and  assigned  Lincoln,  who 
came  in  the  same  day,  to  the  .;ommand  of  the  right  wing. 

With  the  militia  who  flocked  to  Gates'  camp  came  a  band 
of  Oneida  and  Tuscarora  Indians,  who  had  been  persuaded 
by  the  influence  of  Schuyler,  then  active  as  Indian  Com- 
missioner, to  join  the  army.  They  were  objects  of  such  curi- 
osity that  it  became  necessary  to  forbid  the  soldiers  from 
flocking  to  their  encampment.  These  Indians  were,  however, 
a  terror  to  the  enemy.  Gates'  orders  distinguished  them  from 
Burgoyne's  savages  by  a  red  woollen  cap. 

On  the  3d  October,  Burgoyne  was  compelled  to  diminish 
the  soldiers'  rations,  the  foraging  parties  meeting  but  little 
success,  and  requiring  heavy  covering  parties.  The  Ameri- 
cans were  constantly  in  the  field,  harassing  the  advanced 
pickets,  and  night  alarms  prevented  the  British  from  quit- 
ting their  clothes  and  deprived  them  of  rest.  The  main 
bodies  of  both  armies  lay  in  quiet,  while  the  woods  resounded 
to  the  stroke  of  the  axe,  felling  trees  for  the  fortifications. 
Burgoyne  sent  word  to  Clinton  on  the  23d  September,  that 
he  would  await  news  from  him  until  the  12th  October. 

Riedesel,  in  his  memoirs  of  the  campaign,  says  that  the 
situation  becoming  daily  more  critical  and  the  eneru^^^  too 
strong,  both  in  numbers  and  position,  to  be  attacked,  Bur- 
goyne on  the  4th  called  Generals  Phillips,  Riedesel,  and  Era- 
ser, to  consult  with  them  as  to  what  measures  to  adopt.  He 
proposed  to  leave  the  boats  and  stores  under  strong  guard, 
and  turning  the  left  wing  of  Gates,  to  attempt  an  attack  ;  no 
decision  was  arrived  at.  A  second  conference  was  held  on 
the  evening  of  the  6th,  when  Riedesel  recommended  an  im- 
mediate attack  or  a  return  to  Batten-Kill.  Fraser  approved 
of  this  plan.     Phillips  declined  to  express  an  opinion.     Bur- 


y\ 


w' 


38 


THE   BATTLE   OF  BEMIS   HEIGHTS. 


goyne  terminated  the  discussion  by  declaring  i.hat  he  would 
make  a  reconoissance  of  the  left  wing  of  the  Americans  on  the 
7th,  and  if  there  were  any  prospect  of  success  he  would  at- 
tack on  the  8th  or  return  to  a  position  at  Freeman's  Farm* 
and  on  the  i  ith  begin  a  retreat  to  the  rear  of  Batten-Kill. 

Just  before  noon  on  the  7th  Burgoyne  marched  out  of  camp 
with  fifteen  hundred  men  and  ten  pieces  of  artillery,  destined 
for  the  reconnoissance,  and  also  to  cover  a  foraging  party  to 
relieve  their  immediate  distress.  The  troops  were  formed  into 
three  columns,  under  Phillips,  Riedesel,  and  Fraser,  within 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  of  the  American  left.  The  rangers, 
Indians,  and  provincials,  were  ordered  to  pass  through  the 
woods  and  gain  the  rear  of  the  camp.  The  foraging  party 
entered  i  field  and  began  to  cut  the  wheat  in  sight  of  the 
American  outposts,  when  the  alarm  was  given  and  the  Ameri- 
cans beat  to  arms.  Wilkinson  went  to  the  front  to  see  the 
cause,  ard  observed  the  foragers  at  work,  the  covering  party, 
and  the  officers  with  their  glasses  endeavoring  to  reconnoitre 
the  American  left.  He  reported  thck  position  to  Gates  and 
gave  as  his  opinion  that  they  were  inclined  to  offer  battle. 
"  I  would  indulge  them,"  he  added,  whereupon  Gates  re- 
plied :  "  Well,  then,  order  on  Morgan  to  begin  the  game." 
A  plan  was  concerted^  with  the  approval  of  Gates  for  Morgan 
to  make  a  detour  and  gain  a  height  on  the  right  of  the  enemy, 
time  enough  for  which  was  allowed  him  before  Poor's  brigade 
were  sent  to  attack  the  left.  The  British  generals  were  still 
consulting  as  to  the  best  mode  of  pursuing  the  reconnoissance 
when  the  New  Hampshire  and  New  York  troops  of  Poor's 
Brigade  fell  upon  the  British  left,  where  the  grenadiers  under 
Major  Ackland  were  posted,  with  impetuous  fury  and  ex- 
tended the  attack  to  the  front  of  the  Germans.  At  this  time 
Morgan  descended  the  hill  and  striking  the  light  infantry  on 
the  right  endeavored  to  turn  their  flank.  Seeing  his  danger 
of  being  enveloped,  Burgoyne  ordered  a  second  position  to 
be  taken  by  the  light  infantry  to  secure  the  return  of  his 
troops  to  camp.  Meanwhile  Poor's  brigade  pressed  the  left 
with  ardor  and  csmpelled  them  to  give  way.     Fraser,  with 


BURGOYNE   FALLS   BACK. 


39 


part  of  his  light  infantry,  moved  rapidly  to  prevent  an  entire 
rout,  and  feU  mortally  wounded.  Phillips  and  Riedesel  were 
then  ordered  to  cover  a  general  fetreat,  which  was  effected 
in  good  order,  though  hard  pressed,  the  enemy  leaving  eight 
pieces  of  cannon  in  the  hands  of  the  Americans,  most  of  their 
artillerymen  being  killed  or  wounded. 

Hardly  had  the  British  entered  their  camp  when  it  was 
stormed  with  great  fury  in  the  face  of  a  severe  fire  of  grape 
and  musketry.  The  British  intrenchments  were  stoutly  de- 
fended by  Balcarras  and  no  impression  was  made.  The  Ger- 
man entrenched  camp  of  Breyman,  with  the  provincials,  was 
carried  by  Learned,  who  appeared  on  the  ground  with  his 
fresh  brigade  at  sunset,  and  an  opening  was  thus  made  in 
the  right  and  rear  which  exposed  the  whole  British  camp,  but 
the  darkness  of  the  night,  and  the  fatigue  and  disorder  of  the 
men,  prevented  advantage  being  taken  of  this  situation. 

In  the  night  Burgoyne  broke  up  his  camp  and  retired  to  his 
original  position,   which  he  had  fortified  behind  the  Great 
Ravine.     Thus  closed  the  second  battle  of  Saratoga,  known  as 
the  Battle  of  Bemis   Heights.     The  loss  of  the  British  was 
estimated  at  six  hundred  killed,  wounded  and  taken  prisoners, 
that  of  the  Americans  did  not  exceed  one  hundred  and  fifty 
killed  and  wounded.     Burgoyne  lost  the  flower  of  his  officers. 
Besides   General  Fraser  and  Sir  Francis  Clark,  his  principal 
aide,  who   were  mortally  wounded,   and  Breyman  who  was 
killed,  Majors  Ackland  and  Williams  we/e  taken  prisoners, 
the  former  wounded.     On  the  American  side  Arnold,  who 
behaved  with  the  most  desperate  valor,  exposing  himself  in  a 
frantic  manner  and  leading  the  troops  without  authority,  just 
as  the  victory  was  won  received  a  ball  which  fractured  his 
leg  and  killed  his  horse  ;  and  General  Lincoln,  while  on  his 
way  to  order  a  cannonade  on  the  enemy's  camp,  received  a 
mu£,ket-ball  in  the  leg  which  shattered  the  bone.     With  re- 
gard to  the  conduct  of  this  battle,  much  has  been  said.     Gates 
has  been  blamed  for  not  leaving  his  camp,  and  Arnold  has 
been  lauded  as  the  hero  of  the  day.     These  criticisms  are 
equally  unjust.     Up  to  sunset,  when  Learned 's  corps  was  sent 


w 


'"ra 


40 


BURGOYNE   RETREATS  TO  SARATOGA. 


forward  to  finish  the  action,  there  was  only  one  brigade  in 
the  field.  Gates'  place  was  with  the  centre  and  right,  where 
the  militia  were  posted,  and  the  security  of  his  camp  and  the 
protection  of  the  road  to  Albany  his  one  true  concern.  Ar- 
nold's reckless  daring  no  doubt  encouraged  and  inspired  the 
troops,  but  there  is  no  evidence  of  any  generalship  on  his  part. 
Had  the  day  resulted  differently,  he  would  have  been  deser- 
vedly cashiered.  Gates,  in  his  report  to  Congress  of  the 
1 2th,  with  great  magnanimity,  mentioned  his  gallantry  and 
wound  while  forcing  the  enemy's  breastworks.  While  com- 
mending all  the  troops  engaged  for  their  spirit,  he  gave  es- 
pecial praise  to  Morgan's  riflemen  and  Dearborn's  light 
infantry. 

When  Burgo  ne  '  back  to  his  original  position,  he  was 
in  hopes  that  tlus  ciiange  of  front  would  induce  Gates  to  form 
a  new  disposition,  and  perhaps  attack  him  in  his  lines,  where 
his  superior  artillery  would  have  given  him  the  advantage. 
During  the  8th,  he  repeatedly  offered  battle  to  the  American 
right,  but  Gates  was  too  thorough  a  soldier  to  be  tempted  in 
this  manner.  His  plans  were  more  comprehensive.  On  the 
evening  of  the  7th  he  ordered  General  Fellows,  who  was  at 
Tift's  Mill  with  thirteen  hundred  men,  to  move  to  a  position 
to  prevent  the  recrossing  of  the  Hudson  at  the  Saratoga  P'ord. 
On  the  morning  of  the  8th  Fellows  took  possession  of  the 
Saratoga  barracks  and  began  I0  throw  up  intrenchments,  and 
sent  an  express  to  Benni'  .  :;  to  hurry  up  troops  to  his  as- 
sistance. Gates  at  once  possession  of  the  abandoned 
Gamp  at  Freeman's  Farm.          ''  . 

Burgoyne  receiving  intelligenc ":  of  this  movement  in  his 
rear,  began  his  retreat  at  nine  o'clock  at  night,  leaving  his 
sick  and  wounded.  A  heavy  rain  causing  him  to  delay  at 
Dovogat,  he  only  reached  Saratoga  on  the  night  of  the  9th, 
and  his  artillery  could  not  pass  the  ford  of  the  Fishkill  till  the 
morning  of  the  lOth.  On  the  approach  of  the  advance  gu.ird, 
Fellows,  who  had  rece.  ed  notice  of  the  retreat,  crossed  to 
the  east  side  of  the  W:  c  on,  where  he  was  joined  by  the 
militia  from   Bennington,  the   rear  of  which  arrived  \s  Bur- 


GATES   PURSUES. 


41 


goyne's  front  reached  Saratoga.  General  Bayley,  who  com- 
manded the  militia  column,  had  posted  a  force  of  one  thou- 
sand men  to  guard  an  intermediate  ford,  and  also  detached 
one  thousand  men  to  Fort  Edward,  to  the  command  of  which, 
at  the  request  of  Bayley,  Stark  was  assigned  on  the  14th. 
The  main  body  o^  Gates'  army,  having  prepared  their  pro- 
visions and  equipped  themselves,  started  in  pursuit  about 
noon.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  10th  at  four  o'clock  the  ad- 
vance reached  Saratoga,  and  found  Burgoyne  encamped  on 
the  height  beyond  the  Fishkill.  -Gates'  forces  took  a  position 
in  the  wood,  on  the  Saratoga  heights,  their  right  resting  on 
the  brow  of  the  hill,  about  a  mile  in  the  rear  of  the  Fishkill. 

On  the  nth  Motgan  was  ordered  to  cross  the  Fishkil!  and 
fall  upon  the  enemy's  rear  ;  there  was  a  heavy  fog.  Morgan 
struck  their  pickets  and  concluded  that  Burgoyne  had  not  re- 
tired as  was  supposed.  Patterson's  and  Learned's  brigades 
were  ordered  to  his  support,  and  a  vigorous  cannonade  was 
opened  on  the  front  and  rear.  Twelve  hundred  men  of  Pat- 
terson's corps  had  hardly  crossed  the  creek  when  thi  fog 
lifted  and  the  whole  British  Army  was  discovered  in  line  of 
battle.  The  Americans  fell  back  over  the  creek  in  disorder. 
Learned's  corps  was  halted  and  the  two  brigades  retired  to  a 
point  a  half  mile  distant,  where  they  threw  up  entrenchments, 
which  they  held.  The  Americans  succeeded  in  destroying  a 
large  number  of  batteaux  and  stores. 

The  American  artillery,  which  had  taken  no  active  part  in 
the  earlier  battles,  now  came  into  play ;  the  passages  of  the 
river  were  covered  by  an  incessant  fire,  every  attempt  to 
move  the  batteaux  was  instantly  arrested,  and  as  Burgoyne 
himself  stated,  no  part  of  his  position  was  secure  from  the  guns. 

On  the  1 2th  a  council  of  war  was  called  by  Burgoyne,  and 
a  retreat,  leaving  stores  and  baggage,  was  agreed  upon,  but 
the  scouts  reporting  that  no  movement  could  be  made  with- 
out immediate  discovery,  the  project  was  abandoned.  On 
the  13th,  only  three  days'  stores  remaining,  a  second  council 
was  held  to  which  all  field  officers  and  captains  commanding 
corps  were  invited.     They  decided  tnat  the  situation  justified 


42 


BURGOYNE   SURRENDERS. 


capitulation  upon  honorable  terms.  Negotiations  were  open- 
ed on  the  14th  with  General  Gates,  and  on  the  i6th  the  conven- 
tion was  signed.  On  the  17th  October,  the  British  army  laid 
down  its  arms  on  the  green  in  front  of  old  Fort  Hardy,  on 
the  north  bank  of  the  Fishkill,  in  the  presence  cf  Wilkinson, 
Gates*  adjutant,  and  Burgoyne,  accompanied  by  Riedesel 
and  Phillips,  rode  to  the  American  headquarters.  They 
were  met  by  General  Gates,  followed  by  his  suite,  and  ac- 
companied by  General  Schuyler,  who  had  come  up  from  Al- 
bany for  the  occasion.  The  British  troops  were  then  marched 
past  in  view  of  the  American  army,  whose  moderation  in  the 
hour  of  triumph  is  one  of  the  most  pleasing  incidents  of  this 
historic  scene.  Burgoyne  completed  the  formality  of  surren- 
der by  the  tender  of  his  sword. 

The  total  force  surrendered,  as  appears  by  the  ofificial  re- 
turn, signed  by  General  Burgoyne,  and  preserved  among  the 
Gates  papers  in  the  New  York  Historical  Society,  was  5,791, 
of  which  3,379  were  English  and  provincials  and  2,412  Ger- 
man auxiliaries,  together  with  a  train  of  artillery  of  twenty- 
seven  pieces. 

The  strength  of  the  American  army,  rank  and  file,  at  Sar- 
atoga on  the  day  of  surrender,  appears  from  the  same  doc- 
uments to  have  been  11,098,  of  which  7,716  of  the  Continen- 


tal   line    [regulars],   and   3,382    militia.       In 


reviewmg 


the 


whole  campaign  it  will  be  observed  how  little  real  reliance 
could  be  placed  on  the  militia,  whose  short  terms  of  service 
were  a  source  of  perpetual  anxiety  to  the  General  in  com- 
mand. No  better  or  more  appropriate  illustration  of  this  can 
be  given  than  the  action  of  the  militia  of  the  Hampshire 
Grants,  whom  General  Gates  had  ordeped  to  his  support. 
The  arrival  in  camp,  on  the  i8th  September,  of  these  victors 
of  Bennington,  under  General  Stark,  the  hero  of  that  battle, 
animated  the  whole  army,  who  were  aware  that  they  were  on 
the  eve  of  an  engagement,  but  to  the  mortification  and  disgust 
of  Gates,  their  term  of  service  expiring  the  same  day,  they 
marched  home  from  the  camp  without  unpacking  their  bag- 
gage, and  as  Wilkinson  asserts,  without  any  effort  to  induce 


RESULTS   OF  THE   VICTORY.  4- 

them  to  remain  on  the  part  of  their  officers.  It  is  not  to  be 
denied  that  the  miHtia  did  occasional  noteworthy  service,  but 
the  brunt  of  the  engagements  fell  upon  the  regular  Continen- 
tal f-oops,  who  before  the  close  of  the  war  became  in  every 
way  the  equal  of  their  British  foes. 

The  series  of  engagements  known  as  the  battle  of  Saratoga 
has  been  styled  one  of  the  fifteen  decisive  battles  of  the  world. 
Its  consequences  were  of  such  vast  importance  as  to  entitle  it 
to  this  distinction.  The  long-cherisl-jd  plan  of  the  British 
Mmistry,  pursued  through  two  campaigns  with  persevering 
obstmacy,  was  finally  defeated.  The  open  alliance  of  France 
was  secured  ;  the  United  States  of  America  were  recognized 
by  the  continental  powers.  The  news  of  the  victory  spread 
rapidly  over  the  land,  carrying  joy  to  the  hearts  of  the 
patriots.  Washington  viewed  it  as  a  signal  stroke  of  Provi- 
dence. Congress  voted  the  thanks  of  the  nation  to  General 
Gates  and  his  army,  and  a  gold  medal  was  struck  and  pre- 
sented to  him  in  commemoration  of  the  event. 

The  last  days  of  a  century  are  closing  upon  these  memor- 
able scenes.  How  long  will  it  be  ere  the  government  of  this 
Empire  State  shall  erect  a  monument  to  the  gallant  men  who 
fought  and  fell  upon  these  fields  and  here  secured  her  liberty 
and  renown  ? 


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